Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 30 October 2024

Parents Maddie Kennedy from Moe and Traralgon’s Rochelle Aland, eight-month-old Ellie, Lola (2) and Logan (3) had a blast at the local Children’s Week celebration in Newman Park. STORY -PAGE 23

Magnificent seven

By KATRINA

BRANDON, STEFAN BRADLEY AND DAVID BRAITHWAITE

NEW homesare underway as partofthe Big Housing Buildproject throughout Victoria, with seven social homes currently close to being completed in Moe.

The governmentwilldeliver 1300 social and affordable homes across Victoria through the $1 billion Regional Housing Fund, and has announced that of the first 1000 homes, 65 will be built in “OuterGippsland”, including Latrobe Valley, Wellington and East Gippsland shires, and110 in “InnerGippsland”. Minister for Housing and Member for Eastern Victoria Region,Harriet Shing visited Moe last week, to announce that the build in Moe will be done in time for Christmas. Theprojectaims to provide housing to people in need, including victim/survivors of family violence and those at risk or experiencing homelessness.

The state government has invested $91 million into the Latrobe Valley

region to create219 newhomes;102 homes havebeen completed, and 117 are underway. Overall, $228 million has been invested within the Gippsland area to create 540 new homes.

The Moe development results from a partnership between Homes Victoria and Community Housing Victoria Ltd.

The state government investedmore than $2.3 million in the project.

Within the development, energy efficien cy was considered in the construction of the buildings so that residents couldkeep coolinsummer and warm in winter.

“We are in the process of transforming social housing across the state. As part of our investment of more than $6.3 billion, we have invested$1.25 billion of that in regional and rural Victoria,”

Ms Shing said.

“They (the homes) are bright. They are modern. They are energy efficient. Theymeet all of therequirements for accessibility. They alsohave great storage and are really places people willbe proud to call home

“We want to really make sure that we are building housing that meets people’s needs, that is closetotrain stations, healthcare, primary education, and childcare, and also close to where people work as our population grows.”

The $6.3 billion is being invested through the Big HousingBuild and Regional Housing Fund, and has more than 10,000 homes underwayorcomplete right across the state, and nearly 5000 households are moving in or have moved into brand new homes.

Ms Shing tol dt he Expre ss that between now and 2028/29, the state hopes to deliver around 1900 ne w social and affordable homes to meet the overwhelming demand for units, townhouses and apartments.

One of the project’s objectives is to ensure that planning approvals happen fastertohelp expand the housing market. The projectalsohopes to alleviate the costs of people finding homes specifically for their occupation.

“The Ministe rf or Regional Development, Gayle Tierneyhas a

$150 million fund. Here in the Latrobe Valleyfor example, we have accommodationand housing for sevenhealthcare workers in Moe who provide aged care services on-site,” Ms Shing said.

“This is the sort of model that willtake pressure off of the existing system, and the private rental market will enable the shortage of workers across aged care, healthcare,and early childhood education to be met becausewedon’t see that shortage of housing and accommodation is something that keeps people away from being able to movetoregional Victoria or to stay in regional Victoria.”

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull however maintains there are fewer homes in many local government areas (LGAs) across the state.

“The reality of it is, we haveless homes in many local government areas across the state, including Gippsland. There are less social housing homes in Wellington ShireCouncil and significantly less in the Latrobe Valley,” he said.

Continued -Page2

Treatment upgradedwithnew systems

DOZENS of women are already benefiting from new equipment at Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) to better support breast cancer surgery.

The new high-definition imaging system allows the surgical team to scan breast tissue in the operating theatre to ensure all of the cancer has been removed.

“We want the surgeon to be confident that they have got all of the cancer in the first surgery. We are more likely to do thatwith the scanner so a woman will spend less time in surgery and can start her recovery sooner,” LRH Acting General Manager Surgical Services, Janelle McInnes said.

The $135,000 systemwas purchased with the proceeds of LRH’s Better Care Appeal. The appeal was launched in 2023 and attracted donations from across Gippsland, many from women who had experienced or werecurrently in treatment forbreastcancer.

The appeal’s amba ssad or was long -time Emergency Department Nurse Unit Manager, Anne Galletti, who was in the middle of breast cancer treatment whenshe accepted the honorary role.

“If it means that women spend less time being prepared for surgery, less time in surgery, less time worryingabout whether the surgeon has got all the cancer after surgery, then that’s agood thing,” Ms Galletti said.

Anot her amba ssado rw as for mer LRH Community Advisory Committee member Clare Plozza, while Kate Steinmann, abreast cancer survivor, gathered support from the Maffra community and surroundsand spread awareness about the need for the imaging system.

Ms Steinmann required two surgeries to remove all of the cancer.

“Every time you go to surgery, it’s more stress, more emotional turmoil and of course, more risk,”

Ms Steinmann said.

Surgeon KJ Tan, who had alsospruikedthe importance of the imaging system, said he was amazed by the community’s response.

LRH Chief Executive, DonMcRae has extended histhanks to every individual, community group or business that supported the Better Care Appeal.

“Your support not only highlights the strength and compassion of ourcommunity, but also ensures LRH we can continue to providehigh quality, safe care to those who need it most,” he said.

“I am so appreciativeofall the people who raised funds. Iwas so shocked that we were able to get this equipment here for local women to benefit from, it’s been wonderful to see,” he said.

Early Christmas present coming for Moe

From Page 1

“IN the midstofsignificant population increase and ahousing crisis worsened by Labor pushing landlords fromthe rental market, we have four less social housing homes in East Gippsland than we had in Labor’s first term.

“This government spruiks about its so-calledBig Housing Build,but it is irrelevant how many homes you build if at the same time you are demolishing or selling off agreater number, resulting in anet loss. That is what has occurred here."

Earlier this year, Mr Bull asked Ms Shing in Parliament about publichousing residences in the East Gippsland Shire.

Responding to aquestion on notice, Ms Shing confirmed the localgovernment area had four less socialhousing homes than when it cameto

government nearly 10 yearsago, saying “that there were 931 socialhousing dwellingsinthe EastGippsland Local Government Area as of June 30, 2023. At June 30, 2017, there were 927 social housing dwellings in the East Gippsland Local Government Area”.

Mr Bull said: “Whenevershe is publicly questioned on this, Ms Shing wants to talk about what the Liberals and Nationals did in government to deflectfrom her failure to havesupported her own electorate."

"Even then, the answer to her question is, we had apublic housing waiting list around half of whatit is now.Ithas exploded to 61,587 under her watch.

“It is not aBig Housing Build at all, it is more a big housing con. The government has led people to believe these new homes are all additional homes boosting social housing numbers -but they are not.

“In addition to havingless homes, when you look at the net amount of bedrooms, it is an even worse outcome. The homes that are being sold off or demolished around the region are in some cases three-fourbedroom homes and they are being replacedbyone and two bedroom dwellings, so apart from the reduction in homes, we’ve lost a significant number of bedrooms also."

In response, Ms Shing said: "aspartofthe $1 billion Regional Housing Fund, and the delivery of more than 1300 additional social housing homes across rural and regional Victoria, Homes Victoria is urgently acquiring 50 transitional homes to support peopleexperiencing homelessnessin regional areas. Five of these homes (or 10 per centofthe total new homes) willbelocated in Outer Gippsland.

City

IT'Sall in thehands of the bean countersnow

Counting is underway by the Victorian Electoral Commission for the LatrobeCity Councilelection, aftervoting closed at 6pm last Friday (October 25).

Counting began on Monday, October 28.

"The counting of votes will take place over the next three weeks locally within each council wherever possible," Electoral Commissioner, Sven Bluemmel said.

The VEC will accept postal votes that were completed by the voter before the close of votingupuntil 12pm on Friday, November 1. Givencomplete results can only be determined once all admissibleballotshave been received and counted, results timelines will vary across councils.

Provisional results will be published on the VEC website as they become available at: vec. vic.gov.au -following completion of preference distributions or computer calculations.

All results are provisional untilofficial declaration ceremonies are held betweenThursday, November 7and Friday, November 15. There are 42 uncontested elections across the state, including one in Latrobe City.

Currentsitting councillor SharonGibson will be on the next council, serving the newlycreated Newborough Ward, which was ran unopposed.

This will be officially declared at the same time as the remaining ward declarations. Ballot packs were mailed to more than 4.4 millionvoters from Monday, October 7, and the Victorian Electoral Commission hadreceived 61.33 per cent back at close of business last Thursday.

The overall statewide turnout rate in 2020 was 81.47 per cent, andthe VEC expects the final turnout for 2024 to be known after the close of the postal vote receipt period on Friday, November 1.

Mr Bluemmel says that although some issues had been raised regarding the non-receipt of ballot packs and changes of addresses, the VEC worked closely with AustraliaPost to deliver more than 100,000 replacement ballot packs, many of which were to alternative addresses since the close of roll.

Grateful: Latrobe RegionalHealthEmergency Department Nurse UnitManager, Anne Galletti and SurgeonKJTan. Photograph supplied

Moe armed robbery

LATROBE Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating an armed robberyinMoe on Thursday, October 24.

It is believed an unknownoffender attended abusiness on Albert Street, threatened amale staffmember with afirearmand demanded cash at about 6am.

The thief stole money and fled the scene on foot heading in an unknown direction. No one was injured.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit aconfidential report online at: crimestoppersvic.com.au

Churchill man faces court

ACHURCHILL man has appeared in court after he was charged for allegedly helping his father commit suicide in 2013.

PoliceBeat with TomHayes

Steven Carter, 51, faced the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Friday, October 18.

Carter has allegedly aided and abetted his father, Raymond Carter, in the commission of a suicide between January 17 and 18, 2013.

Raymond was found to have died in his sleep on January 18, 2013, according to Herald Sun Classifiedsatthe time, published on January 21, 2013.

Magistrate Andrew McKenna adjourned the matter for asummary jurisdiction application and afurther committal mention in December, the Hera ld Sun rep orts. Carter ’s bai lwas extended until that hearing.

The punishment for assisting or counselling

someone elsetotaketheir own life in Victoria can be ajail sentence of up to five years.

Lifelife is available24hours aday. Speak with someone at 13 11 14.

Suspicious Morwell fire

LATROBE Crime Investigation Unit detectives areinvestigating asuspicious fire in Morwell on Thursday, October 24.

Emergency services were called to the vacant commercial premises on Tarwin Street just before 4am.

Investigators believe offenders gained access to thepremises before setting it alight, causing minor damage.

No arrests have been made and acrime scene has been established.

Anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,

or submit aconfidential report at: crimestoppers. com.au

Safer exchange site

BUYING or selling online? Special zones where you can exchange items safely are being established at 35 police stations across Victoria from this week, including Morwell.

Asafer alternative to meeting strangers at your home or apark, Safer Exchange Sites are:

 Based outside 24-hour police;

 In well-lit areas, and;

 Monitored by CCTV.

The roll-out of these sites follows successful trials across Melbourne’s north-east in 2022. During the trial’s six-monthevaluation period, thefts and robberies in the area from online sales decreased.

Fire restrictions commenceacross state

THIS year'sVictorian fire season is set to officially begin with fire restrictions commencing in parts of the state this week.

CFA declared the first Fire Danger Period (FDP) for the 2024/25fire season, commencing on Monday, October 28 for the following municipalities in the west and northwest of the state:

 Mildura Rural City Council;

 Yarriambiack Shire Council;

 Hindmarsh Shire Council;

 West Wimmera Shire Council, and;

 Horsham Rural City Council.

Victorians can expect ahotter and drier summer and communities should be preparing their properties andcreating aBushfire Survival Plan.

CFA will be introducing further FDPs for Victorian municipalitiesinthe comingweeks and months based on assessments of the amount of rain, grassland curing rate and local conditions.

CFA Chief Officer, Jason Heffernan said with an increased fire risk expected in the west and southwest of the state, now is the time to take action and be ready for what’s ahead.

“Fire safetyisa shared responsibilityand we ask Victorians to be prepared and stay informed,” he said.

“Take this opportunity ahead of the FDP to clean up yourproperty but also be cautious when burning off and ensure it’s properly extinguished.

“Now is also the time to sit down with your household and prepare your bushfire plan.”

Thoseconductingburn-offs mustnotifyauthorities online at the FirePermits Victoria website (firepermits.vic.gov.au), or by calling 1800 668 511.

By registering your burn-off online, you allow emergency call takers to allocate more of their time taking calls from people who needemergency assistance immediately.

Millions worth of drugs seized

MAJOR Drug Squad (MDS)detectives seized one of Victoria’s largest cannabis hauls of recent times last week,aftermore than 6000 plants were uncovered in Leongatha South.

Officersfromthe MDS, along with Morwell Divisional Response Unit and local uniform officers, executed asearch warrant at the Koonwarra Inverloch Road rural property at about 7.45am on Tuesday, October 22.

One woman and four men were arrested at the address and asophisticated hydroponic set-up was discovered in several commercial-sized hot houses. Plants located ranged from seedlings through to mature-sized plants weighing in at 1.7 tonnes. It’s estimated the overall crop of 6525 plantswould have astreet value of more than $26 million.

“Combattingthe impact of drugs on ourc munity is amajor focusofVictoriaPolice,” MDS Detective Acting Inspector,Leemara Fairgrieve said.

“This is theone of the most significant complex cannabis hydroponic set-ups that have seen in recent times.

The five Vietnamese nationals arrested -aged 51, 47,35and 25 -wereall charged with cultiva and trafficking acommercial quantity of cannabis.

They were remanded to appear in Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Monday, March 7, 2025.

“Drugs are amajor driver of crime -this investigation shows our ongoing commitment against the illicitsubstances trade within Victoria and criminals who are attempting to benefit from this type of community harm,"Act. Insp. Fairgrieve said.

“We urge members of the community to report any suspicion of drug-related activitytocontact CrimeStopperson1800333 000 or submit a

No burning off is permitted during the FDP without aPermit to Burn, which can be applied for through the Fire Permits Victoria website. Awritten permit is required to burn off grass, undergrowth, weeds or other vegetation duringthe FDP. You can apply for apermit at: firepermits. vic.gov.au

Lighting fires in the open without apermit can bring apenalty of more than $21,800 and/or 12 months imprisonment.

For afull list of conditions, visit: cfa.vic.gov.au/ can

Farmers can find legal guidelines and practical advice at: cfa.vic.gov.au/farms

More information about FDPs is available online at: cfa.vic.gov.au/firedangerperiod

To find out what you can and can’t do during FDP,

Caution: Localsare beingurged to have theirplans in place forfireseason. File photograph

Federation Universitystudentsrecentlymarkedaneducationmilestone at theChurchill campus Photographs: TomHayes

Next chapter awaits for graduates

By TOMHAYES

STEPPING into the next chapter of their lives was close to 200 Federation University students who officially graduated at Churchill’s Gippsland Campus on Tuesday, October 15.

The ceremony included students of all courses from both the Gippsland and Berwick campuses, who were apart of the more than 600 Federation University students who graduated this month.

Federation University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley said he was incredibly proud of the graduates, many of whom juggle study with work, health, and caring responsibilities.

“We offer our congratulationstoall students graduating this monthand hope they take a momentwith family and friends to reflect on all they have achieved,” he said.

“Weare delighted to see our graduates celebrate their success and carry their knowledge and passion into their communities.”

One of the students from the graduating class was 38-year-old engineering student, Daniel Onovo, describing his time at Federation University in Gippsland as a“privilege”.

“Initially, Ihad no prior knowledge of the area, nor did Ihave friends or family member living there.However, Iwas pleasantly surprised by the supportive community and interactions I experienced,” he said.

Mr Onovo left his friends and family in southern Nigeria to pursue his studies.

“Although it was atough decision, Iprioritised the education and opportunities that Federation University offered, which would ultimately benefit my future and that of my family,” he said.

Graduate: Federation Universitygraduate DanielOnovo, originallyfrom Nigeria, hopes to put his engineering exper tise to work in the region.

Mr Onovo had previously studied while in Nigeria, graduating from Enugu State University of Science and Technology with aBachelor and Graduate Diploma in Computer and Electrical Engineering.

What stood out to Mr Onovo was Federation University’s seamless admission process,which he describ ed as “professional ,e fficient, and customer-centric”.

Support: Jasmine Crutchfield (right) was joined by her mother,Nene Crutchfield, and her daughter Georgia (3),ather graduation.

“Theirtimely responses and excellent communication made my decision easy,” Mr Onovo added. Graduati ng with aM aster of Eng ineer ing Technology in Mechatronics and Industrial Automation, which took two years to complete, Mr Onovo hopes to explore various opportunities and apply his acquired skills within the region.

After two years at Gippsland’s Federation

University, Mr Onovo now calls himselfaChurchill local, hoping to apply his knowledge to the area. In the same graduating class was 37-year-old Jasmine Crutchfield, who graduated with a Bachelor of Community and Human Services.

“My experience at Fed Uni was great, supportive, flexible, connected, and responsive,” she said.

Ms Crutchfieldendured alot of change throughout her time at university,beginning in 2019, going through COVID-19, having her first child in 2021, undergoingpersonal challengesin2022, then having her second child in 2023.

Orig ina lly from Mirbo oN orth, whe nM s Crutchfield beganher study,she wasliving in Inverloch, progressingthrough her unitsbefore COVID-19 struck.

Once the pandemic was relived, she moved to Traralgon to pursue her studies in person at the Gippsland campus.

“I was able to accessthe Fed UniChildren’s Centre for my daughter, which enabled me to have focussedon-campus study time and undertake placement,” Ms Crutchfield said.

Shesaidthe fact that the university was local was amassivedrawcardfor her, as well as aligning to her chosen career path and offering recognition for prior learning.

Ms Crutchfield said her degree “allowed me to consolidate all of my knowledge learned through previous study and work experience”, from her 17 years of experience in the community and services sector.

“It gives me agreat platform to continue my education and career,” she said.

Ms Crutchfield currently worksfor Gippsland Women’s Health, and is the co-founder of anew local business ‘The Collective. Cospace’.

Appreciation: Students march out of theceremonytothe applause of friends and family.

Theirtime:

The “hidden gem” of Latrobe Valley

By TOMHAYES

OMNIA Specialties Australia’s Morwell-based plant has been labelled a“hidden gem” by Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, highlighting the potential global success that awaits the business.

Omnia is aleader in not just Australia, but the world, in the development and manufacturing of fertilisers and biostimulants.Its wider rangeis used globally to improve plant and soil health, and crop yields, in asustainable way.

Omnia is aSouth African-based company as alisted entityinJohannesburg. However, the importance of Morwell’s plant is next level.

Despite the level of its development, Omnia has flown under the radar as alocally-based business, positioned on TramwayRoad betweenMorwell and Churchill, with many locals unaware of what the plant is used for.

However, Omnia recently had the spotlight shine upon them, due to the global demand for their fertiliser coat, reaching as far as Europe and the Americas.

Omnia purchased the technology from HRL Technologies more than 20 years ago, who originally worked on extracting elements from brown coal. From the purchase, Omnia leased the plant from HRL, before buying it due to expansion to meet the growing volume just seven to eight years ago. Speaking with the Express earlierthis month, Omnia Specialties Australia Managing Director, James Freemantle explained the research and development that the business conducts, and what the future could possibly hold.

“The wholebusinessisreally based around taking leonardite -which is like aweathered brown coal. That’s waste for (the power stations),” he explained.

“We take that layer… bring it on-site here and we extract an organic acid called humic acid… into avery concentrated form to make products out of that, thatreally work alongsoilconditioning, nutrient efficiency, and help overall soil structure.”

Omnia has acontract withthe Latrobe Valley coal-fired power stations, undertaking geological testing before extracting.

With coal mining set to be athing of the past, Omnia has already looked toward the future, hoping to keep efficient fertilisers athing of today.

“Thething is, LatrobeValley is so richinthis stuff, so it won’t run out from the resource being there, what will be is how we get access to it,” Mr Freemantle said.

“What we need willstill be there (when coal-fired power stations stop operating),wecould just extract

it ourselves, work with the government to get a licence."

The humic acid product is used as acoat for fertilisers, or an ingredient to increasefertiliser efficiency.

“We are ahumate-based company, workingin the biostimulant field. From that we’ve evolved into afull range of crop nutrition products,” Mr Freemantle added.

“We say we operate in the soil health, crop nutrition space, and now we’ve gone into seaweed extraction as well, turning kelp from Tasmania into aconcentrated liquid.”

Omnia’s Morwell site is described as the global hub for biostimulants, while on-site is where much of the company’sresearch and productdevelopment is. The Morwell site is heavily involved in research, collaborating with companies from Africa and the US, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.

During arecent tour of Omnia’s facilities, Mr Cameron said: “it’s another prime example of just how valuable and resource rich our coalfields are, and theimpact they can haveonthe state’s economy, and it’s all done right here in Morwell.”

“This is exactly the sort of industrial development the state government needs to back instead of letting our brown coalgotowastebecause of ideology and politics.”

Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath joined Mr Cameron on the tour of Omnia’s facility.

“I can’t imagine there are too many specialised Morwell products being marketed as far afield as North and South America on this scale," she added.

“This remarkable good news business is going from strength to strength, whichisawin for Morwell and the Latrobe Valley, awin for the importance of ourcoalfields, awin for our farmers, and an opportunity with an incredible future.”

With growing global populations comes agrowing demandfor food. The growingdemand for food means there is becoming less and less land to grow crops.

“There’s more and more pressure on fertiliser to get out and grow more crops, but there is also environmental pressures to make sure fertiliser isn’t being wasted into the atmosphere or lost into the ground water,” Mr Freemantle said.

“That’swhy we’ve had this massive expansion into the Northern Hemisphere, and the Southern Hemisphereaswell, but really majorfertiliser companies are lookingtomake their fertiliser more efficient.”

The technologytoenhance fertilisers has been around for decades, with many companies existing in Europe where there are gooddeposits, but Omnia has struck gold with the Latrobe Valley.

“Latrobe Valley is so brilliant, because it has world-class resources, it’s low in contaminants, hence we can get avery high concentration when we extract,” Mr Freemantle said.

“It’s just been pushed into the spotlight because environmentalpolicies, there’s more focuson decarbonisation, making things softer, greener, and friendlier-and thisiswhat theseproducts do.

“But what’s exciting for us is, we compete really well on aglobal scale because of the quality of our raw material and the concentration. There is not too many globally that can extract the concentration we can, and that’s our competitive advantage.”

Omniahas aglobal market, with their biggest coming from the sub continents, and south-east Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

The US and Brazil in the Americas already have huge agriculture markets, but also have plenty of growth to make.

“Given the size of their agriculture, they would eventually be number one,” Mr Freemantle said.

Some European countries have been found to have atougher environment from the perspectiveof growing crops, hence Omnia’s expansiontoEurope. Finally, the Middle East is growing rapidly too, due to the poorsoils whichsees thosecountries investing heavily in growingcrops.All thatis needed is water.

Withthe expansions continuallyoccurring at Omnia, they hope to reinvest back into the community by the way of job opportunities.

In the last five years, Omnia has already doubled its workforce, and now currently has around 40 employees, including local contractors. That number is only expended to grow.

Newborough pair turn heads at Sale Cup fashions on the field

By STEFAN BRADLEY

NEWBOROUGH local MaddiMcConnell had an instantglowing smile after she was named best dressedfemale at the Sale Cup on Sunday, October 27.

Ms McConnell told the Express shewas “pretty surprised” to win, considering the strong competition. It’s not her first win in Sale.

“I was very very nervous, but excited. And now I’m super stoked” she said.

“I won here in Sale probably five or six years ago.” She had also competed in Fashion on the Fields at the Moe Cup afortnight ago, but brought in a brand newlookfor Sale. She purchasedthe ASOS dress and then saw aheadpiece online and figured they would look great together. The shoes, bag and Lovisa earrings were added near the end.

“I put it all together within the last week or two. Ilike doing this,but it’s avery expensive hobby as everyone would tell you,” she said with asmile.

Man on amission: James Freemantle is the managing director of Omnia Specialties Australia Photograph: TomHayes

Dressed to impress: Newborough locals Maddi McConnell and Natalie Sellings stole the showat the Sale Cup.Maddi wonbest dressed female,while Natalie wonamillenary awardatSunday’s meeting.

Photograph: Stefan Bradley

Health sector crisis reaches boiling point

COMMENT

AS most Victorians are aware, Victoria is grappling with ahealth crisis of ambulance response times, paramedic health and safety and hospital ramping Ambulance response times have ballooned from 15 mins to an average of 20 minutes in Gippsland. This is well behind Melbourne response times, proving health outcomes are worse in rural Victoria.

Paramedic health and safety in East Gippsland is at risk every night due to unsafe and outdated rosters. Asmall number of ambulance branches, including Maffraand Paynesville, still work rosters that are both unsafe and unhealthy. Aparamedic recently crashed and rolled an ambulance in AV (Ambulance Victoria) after workingan‘on-call’ version of an AV roster.

Hospitalramping is whenemergencydepartments (EDs) get filled to capacity and are unable to move patients through the hospital system. This leads to ambulances with unwell patients stuck on ambulance stretchers in the ambulance bay -creating abottleneck. Thesolutionismulti-factorial, butifthere are ambulance resources ramped at Gippsland hospitals, then there are not enough ambulances to respond to the community.

ABC Gippsland reported on an incidentonAugust 16, 2024, when hospital ramping at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service (BRHS) and Central Gippsland Health Service (CGHS) decreased ambulanceavailability to criticallevels. This is not anew issue and happens frequently. It does, however, highlightthe healthcare inequalities facing rural Victorians.

On that particular night, with local crews ramped at BRHSand CGHS, ambulance crewsfrom Traralgon were respondingtocasesinBairnsdale, depleting resources in the Latrobe Valley and leavingmostofEastGippsland from Rosedale through to Mallacoota without an ambulance during the evening from 5pm until midnight. This highlights the need for extra resources, particularly through the afternoons until midnight East Gippsland paramedics have been working feverishly to address ambulance availability and ambulance response times in EastGippsland. The workload, on average, has increased by 30 per cent over the past five years, yet manyrostersand resources have not changed in East Gippsland. Maffrabranch has proposed asolution for the state government and AV to help with the ambulance and healthcare crisis in East Gippsland. They have beenworking hard, providing evidence and consulting with AV in an effort to combine the

The struggle continues: Paramedics arefeeling constantlyburnt outdue to long hoursand limited resources Photograph supplied

Heyfield and Maffrabranches to forma blended roster -this would give the regionanextraqualified afternoon shift to ease the strain.

Thecost of this upgrade is well worth the investment. It would provide extra resourcestorelieve the pressure and improve response times in Gippsland, provide extra resources to move patients from

rural hospitals to specialist care in Melbourne, and provideasaferroster to protect the public and paramedics from the dangers of fatigue, allowing them to make it home after serving the Gippsland community. It would also double the paramedic coverage working out of the Heyfield AV branch.

The Maffra ambulance branch currently work

afatiguingand unsustainable 10/14 roster (two x10-hour dayshiftsfollowedtwo x14-hour nightshifts). AV have been movingaway fromthis roster to ablended 10/10/12/14 pattern (two 10-hour dayshifts,one 12-hour afternoonshift and one 14-hour nightshift). Almost every other branch in Gippsland worksablended rosterand the majority of paramedics enjoy this shift pattern.

Maffra are happy to work a14-hour nightshift, but with the 30 per cent increase in workload and enormous distances they cover at night,itisnot sustainable to continue with the two consecutive 14-hour nightshifts, with only 10 hours break in-between.

There has been multiple reports fromMaffra crews of fatigue and near misses in AV’s health and safety reporting system.

Maffra’s catchment at night covers Heyfield, Denison, Cowwarr, Toongabbie,Newry, Coongulla, Glenmaggie, Munro, Stockdale, Stratford, Dargo, Licola, Tinamba,Boisdale, and Briagolong. Becauseofthe lack of resourcesovernight,their catchmentalsoexpands to Bairnsdale, Traralgon, Loch Sport, and other towns along the Ninety Mile beach. Upgrading Maffra to ablended rostermakes covering these townssafer forthe Maffra crews, their patients, and the public.

Interesting to note is that 53 per cent of cases in Maffra are sourcedfromoutlying ambulance crews This is because the Maffra ambulance is already on another case, or they have been relocated for the shift to cover another area. Ablended roster, with an added afternoon shift, allows Maffra to continue to serve East Gippsland, as well as improving coverage of their own hometown, improving healthcare and equality.

The job of aparamedic is rewarding and fulfilling as we attend to our communities when needed. However, it also takes atoll on our health, working rosters that include working two consecutive, gruelling 14-hour nightshifts.

The Gippsland public deserves better. There is alarge and diverse community that reside in Gippsland thatare unaware that they have worse health outcomes by living in rural Victoria.

East Gippsland’s resourcing issues have fallen on deaf ears due to the lack of government funding and theunwillingness of Ambulance Victoria (AV) to adequately resource East Gippsland’s Ambulance branches.

Please support us so we can support you. Maffra Branch

Submissionsopen forAmbulance Victoria Inquiry

APARLIAMENTARY inquiry into the performance, workplace culture, and procurementpractices of Ambulance Victoria is seeking submissions from the public.

Memberfor Eastern Victoria, MelinaBathisa participating member of the LegislativeCouncil Legal and Social Issues Committee that is conducting the Inquiry.

The Inquiry is investigating issues with call taking, dispatch, ambulance ramping, working conditions and paramedic workloads, governance and accountability within Ambulance Victoria.

Ms Bath said both patients and employees of Ambulance Victoria are being encouraged to contribute and providefeedback on their experiences.

“Over the past four years ambulance response times have continued to decline in eastern Victoria to worrisome levels," she said.

“Otherissuesincluderegular ramping outside

hospital emergencydepartments and ongoing delays in Triple Zero calls being answered.

“Morale within Ambulance Victoria has hit rockbottom, and the service continues to be woefully under-resourced.

“Local paramedics have recentlyraisedtheir deep concern with me over the gap in MICA (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance) paramedic coverage east of Morwell during the night, while locals have also raised concerns over triaging shortcomings.”

The most recent AmbulanceVictoriaperformance data highlights the continuing decline in Ambulance Victoria’s response for Code 1emergencies.

Ms Bath said 85 per cent of Code 1emergencies are supposed to be responded to by an ambulance within 15 minutes, but for many eastern Victorians this is not the reality.

“Improvements to Ambulance Victoria are needed so all Victorians receive the care they deserve -Ifirmly believethat your health outcomes

shouldn’t be dependent upon yourpostcode.”

Submissionsfor the InquirycloseonFebruary 28,2025 with public hearings to be scheduled. TheLegal and Social Issues Committee report

is dueonSunday, August 31, 2025. To make asubmission, visit: parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/ inquiry-into-ambulance-victoria/submissions/

Bystander early intervention defibrillation increases survival

AMBULANCE Victoria (AV) paramedics are emphasising the importance of early intervention for cardiac arrest cases, following astudy that found adefibrillator shock from abystander can vastly improve survivors' quality of life 12 months on.

The data underpins AV's month-long Shocktober campaign, which highlightsthe life-savingimportance of learningCPR and knowing how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

The Victorianstudy interviewed 1520 outof-hospital cardiacarrest patients who had ashockable heart rhythm and survived 12 months after cardiac arrest.

Of the participants, about 72 per cent were first shocked by paramedics, about 18 per cent were shocked by first responders and about 10 per cent by bystanders.

Findings showed that 12 months on from cardiac arrest, survivors who received bystander defibrillation were 77 per cent more likelytolive at home without care, 72 per cent more likely to have returnedtowork, and 53 per cent more likely to have had agood functional recovery when compared to survivors who waited longer to receive the first shock from paramedics.

AV DirectorofResearch and Evaluation,Ziad Nehme said bystander intervention not only increased acardiac arrest patient's chance of survival but couldhavelife-changing effects long after the incident.

"Braindamage occurs quickly after the onset of cardiac arrest, as brain cells are starved of oxygen," he said.

"Bystander defibrillation halves the time to giving the first shock compared to waiting for paramedics, so the sooner defibrillation can

be administered, the less brain damageto patients."

Thestudy also shows survivors who received bystander defibrillation are more likely to be discharged home from hospital, and less likely to be discharged to arehabilitation facility, compared to firstresponder or paramedicshocked survivors.

Mr Nehme said the research further supported paramedics' call to Victorians to learn CPR, and knowing where the nearest accessible AED was and how to use it.

"Victoria has the best cardiac arrest survival rate in Australia, and one of the best in the world, but we want to further improvethose rates by increasing bystander intervention before paramedics arrive," he said.

"If you witness someone suffering acardiac arrest, we urge you to call Triple Zero (000), start chest compressions and, if there's one nearby, grab adefibrillator and apply shocks as promptedbefore paramedicsarrive. You don't need any training to use adefibrillator.

"It may notonly save the patient's life but improve their qualityoflife long after the event."

Survivors' functionalrecovery was measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended and also assessedtheirability to return to workand live at home without care.

Researchers from AV, Monash University, Victoria University andThe Alfred Hospital published the research online,titled 'One-year quality-of-lifeoutcomes of cardiac arrest survivors by initial defibrillation provider'.

Visit: registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au to find the nearest AED.

Vodafone to expand mobile coverage

By STEFAN BRADLEY

WITHVodafoneset to expandits 4G and 5G coveragetoMoe, Newborough and Sale earlynext year, the telecommunications company says that regional Australians are “paying apremium” for mobile services currently, which they describe as a“bush tax”

The new network will switch on in early 2025, doubling Vodafone’s coverage from 400,000 kilometrestomore than one million square kilometres, reaching 98.4 per cent of the population and increasingits mobile sites in Moe and Newborough from three to six and in Sale from one to four.

Vodafon e, whose parent company is TPG Telecom, toldthe Express this announcement meant “more coverage, more choice and greater value” for users outsidethe cities, and wouldbreak the Telstra and Optus mobile duopoly in regional areas.

“This creates real choice for regional Australians because Vodafone will nowbeable to compete with Telstra and Optus in areasithas not traditionally had presencein. This is the biggest boost to mobile competition in 30 years,” aVodafone spokesperson said.

“Vodafone is doublingits network, and this expansion will enhance service, speed,quality, and coverage for millions of Vodafone customers living, working, and travelling across the country

“No other place in the world charges customers apremium for coverage in regional areas,and Australians are fed up with paying this ‘bush tax’

“This stops now. With Vodafone now expanding to regional Victoria, millions of residents can finally access the award-winning value, innovation and service that Vodafone customers in the city already enjoy.”

Asked if Vodafone would add more mobile sites

throughout Gippsland after Moe, Newborough and Sale, the company did not have more specific details to share.

“We are always looking at ways to enhance and extend our mobile services to customers. This regionalnetworksharingdeal will result in an immediate improvement in network reach and quality for our customers when it is switched on in early 2025,” the Vodafone spokesperson said.

This expansion of coverage is part of adeal Optusmadetoprovide Vodafone with access to its regional radio access network and to share the electromagneticspectrum in regional areas across the country. This deal was recently cleared by the competition watchdog, theAustralianCompetition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

TPG had previously arranged asimilar deal with Telstra, before it was blocked by the ACCC. This action was affirmed by the AustralianCompetition Tribunal, who argued that the proposed arrangements would give Telstrasubstantialbenefitsand increase its market strength on the retail and wholesale mobile markets, and would undermine Optus’incentives to invest in 5G technology.

Telstra has amuch larger presence in regional and rural areas than its competitors. Optus had campaigned against the TPG-Telstra deal in 2022.

Telstra and Optus began to shut down their 3G networks on Monday, October 28 -for good this time afterpushing back the closure anumberof times to give those affected more time to prepare.

Vodafone shut down its 3G network at the start of the year after providing 14 months notice. The company said 3G accounted for less than one per centofnetwork traffic when the switch off occurred, whichmay provide an insight into Optus and Telstra’s customers’ situation as well, who have hadalonger period of time to prepare.

LatrobeCity’suntapped potential

COMMENT

BY DAMIAN ANDREWS

LATROBE City is ahidden gem in Gippsland’s heart. The region boasts attractions that should make it apopular destination.

Despite up to 25,000 vehicles passing through daily,Latrobe City councillors complain that people do not visit.

This disconnect betweenour offerings, available traffic and visitor engagement raises alarming questions about the vision and competence of the Latrobe City Council leadership.

Latrobe City has world-class attractions. People are drawntotrain attractions. The LatrobeValley ModelRailway Association in Moe has three of the world’s best model train layouts (2 HO, 1N-scale).

The Gippsland ModelEngineering Society provides an immersive experience with rideable miniature steam trains. Nearby, Walhalla Goldfields Railway provides apicturesque journey through time.

The region has an abundance of culinary delights, with many restaurants serving great cuisine. There are vibra nt mark ets in Glenga rry, Traralgon,Moe and other locations whereyou can buy local produce. Natural beauty is showcased in wonderful park walks and recreational areas. So, why aren’t visitors stopping?

The answermay be in councilleadership ability to effectively promote these advantages.

While nearby townssuccessfully encourage passers-by to stop, Latrobe City Council struggles to convert this traffic into enthusiastic visitors who return.

Our long-serving councillors and executiveteam frequently state that people do not visit Latrobe City for Latrobe City.

Are they blindtoour region’s potential?Ordo they favour agenda driven political goals above highlighting our wonderful local offerings?

The crucial questions are: do our leaders havethe ability to effectively showcase our region? Do they have the humility to admit their shortcomings? More importantly, do they have the character to set aside their own political beliefs and aspirations for the good of the region?

Withvotes now cast in the election, residents will wait to see if the next council will be consistent with our region’s potential.

Latrobe City deserves leaders that can put self aside and recognise and successfully promote our assets, converting passers-byinto visitors, and visitors into advocates for our stunning region.

About: DamianAndrews is president of Latrobe City Council Watch.

Letters, opinion -Page28

Byebye: 3G net worksbegan shuttingdownearlier this week. Photograph supplied

ONE POINTERS

1. What was the name of the newspaper Clark Kent reported for?

2. What is the youngest member of the family called in The Simpsons?

3. What car manufacturer is responsible for the Colt?

4. Jerr yLee Lewis had ahit single with: “Great Balls Of WHAT? TWOPOINTERS

5. What does acamel store in its hump?

6. In what year was the Hazelwood Power Station officially closed?

7. What does it mean to get an eagle in golf?

8. How long is an Olympic swimming pool?

THREE POINTER

9. What is the strongest metal in the world?

10. What is the national animal of Scotland?

11. Area 51 is located in which US state?

12. Which town in New South Wales is famous for its annual Elvis Festival?

FOUR POINTER

13. What is the name for abeaver’shome?

14. Which word that starts with “B”can mean both ‘to secure’ and ‘to collapse’?

FIVE POINTER

15. Name the African-American lead actors in these movies, one point for each correct answer: 1. Catwoman, 2. I, Robot, 3. To Sir With Love, 4. Book of Eli, 5. The Bodyguard

Howdid you fare?

37: Topofthe class; 30-36: Outstanding; 22-29: Well done; 15-21: Solid effort; 9-14: Room for improvement; 0-8: Hit the books.

Answers: 1: Daily Planet; 2: Maggie; 3: Mitsubishi; 4: Fire; 5: Fat; 6: 2017; 7: nderouTw par; 8: 50 Metres; 9: ngsten;Tu 10: Unicorn; 11: Nevada; 12: Parkes; 13: Lodge; 14: Buckle; 15: 1,:Halle Berr y, 2.:Will Smith, 3.:Sidney .:Denzel,4Poitier Whasington, 5.:Whitney Houston

Howtoplay... Using the 9letters in the gr id, howmany wordsoffour letters or morecan you list? The centreletter must be included and each lettermay be used onlyonce No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural wordsending in ‘s’. Solution page39

Vale to legendarylocal musician

OBITUARY

JEFF Paffen, born May 12, 1923, died peacefully in his sleep at the aged care home, AlbertMoore Gardens, Merimbula, on October 17, 2024.

He was the great ageof101.Jeffwill be fondly remembered in Traralgon and throughout the Latrobe Valley as the longest serving bandmaster of the Traralgon City Band to date.

For manyyears with his fine baritone voice, he led the congregation singing at the 10am Sunday Mass at St Michael’s Catholic Church,Traralgon. For several years he taught music to boys at St Paul’s College, Traralgon, havingtaughthundreds over the decades how to read and write music and play abrass band instrument.

He played the Last Post and Reveille on his cornet annually at the ANZAC Day Dawn Serviceand on Remembrance Day,standing by the Kay and Franklinstreets warmemorial in Traralgon. Achampionpennant lawn bowler and highly respected umpire of the game, he was active as amemberofthe Traralgon Bowling Club, and in retirement the Club Sapphire, Bowling Club, Merimbula. Jeffwas old school -aman of greatfaith,humble and alarrikininhis day.

Once met, Jeff was neverforgotten. He was knownfor his impeccable manners, high values, an incredible sense of honour and an often-surfacing dry sense of humour, always quick to issue acharacteristic wink hello or goodbye with afirm shake of the hand.

Born in Heerlen, The Netherlands, Jeff was the son of blacksmith Johannes Henricus Paffen and his wife Fransisca Celeen, hisfatherhaving the sole contract to make the couplings that joinedtrain carriages of the Dutch Railways.

Like his father, Jeff had afascination for clocks and all things mechanical. As aboy his passions were ice and roller skating, but most of all, bike riding. At ayoung age in Holland, he joined his older brother and father in the local brass band which cemented alifelongloveofmusic.Heattended the technical school,aged 13, and undertook an apprenticeship qualifying as abench-worker, becoming aFirst Class Instrument Fitter.

When World War 2broke out in 1939, Jeff became amember of the Dutch Resistance, taking part in the propaganda division. His main involvement was the high-risk,underground distribution of leaflets disclosing true news and the successes of Allied operations. In his early20s,hevolunteered to serve in theDutch LandArmy in occupied Holland,and afterthe war joined the Royal Dutch Marines, becoming part of the peace keeping force in Indonesia for which he was decorated.

He had trained at the naval base in Portsmouth,England, for a year, specialising in guns and gunnery. In Indonesia he went on night patrols and served as asniper, being acrack shot ANavyfriend’s sister, Monica Horbach was introduced to Jeff and thereafter he began alifelong journey with his soulmate. When building materials were in short supply and housing in great demand after WW2, it was easier for married couples to secureaccommodation. Monica and Jeffmarried first in a

His calling: Jeff Paffen ser ved 20 yearsas bandmasterfor TraralgonCity Band.Heis pictured here (centre) with bandsmen Vincent Fernleigh (left), Chris Stammers (right), and son Paul (front) in 1966.

registry office in 1951 to qualify for housi It was their church marriage when vows w exchanged on September30, 1952 whi became the celebrateddate of their weddi anniversary. That night, Jeff carried his bri over the threshold of the new duplex whi had becomeavailable to them. Her Majes Queen Elizabeth II sent acard of congratul tions when their platinum anniversary wa celebratedin2022. Jeff also received acar marking his 100thbirthday from King Charle and Queen Camila last year.

In 1954, thecouple migrated to Australi on board the SS Watermansailing via th Panama Canal.

From PortMelbourne by shuttle bus t Spencer Street Station, they took atrain to Morwell where Monica’s brother and family were living.

Two days later, Jeff commenced work at the Australian PaperManufacturers (APM), Maryvale, and soon established himself as aresident of Traralgon.

After being asolocornet player in the TraralgonCityBand, he tookover the baton in 1962 when the bandmaster position becamevacant. He announced his retirement as bandmaster when the City of Traralgon Band celebratedits centenary in 1981. He stayed on until asuccessor was chosen,his 20 years’ serviceaccordinghim by the band the honour of life membership.

In retirement from the APM, he and his wife travelled around the world taking in cities in Europe, Americaand Chile, before the couple then moved to Merimbula,NSW in 1989. The town on the Sapphire Coast had takenaspecial place in their lives shortly after they arrived in Australia.

Together, they returned to Holland on several occasions (firstwith their son Paul and daughter Stella in 1967) reuniting with loved ones; they holidayed across Australian states and in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Jeff is survived by his devoted wife Monica (aged 95), and in direct linage by hisdaughterStella, son Paul, grandson Greg gg Jackson and great-granddaughter Tayla-Rose.

Avery special, private family Mass for the repose of Jeff’s soul was held in Merimbula on October 22, conducted by Fr George Ogah, ahead of Jeff’s cremation.

May he rest in eternal peace, Johan Jozef (Jeff) Paffen (1923-2024).

On thetools: Ayoung Jeff Paffen working in the1960s at theAPM.

Service: An extract from the Traralgon Journal of 1981 notingJeff Paffen’s retirement from theband. Photographs supplied

Grand life: Jeff Paffen, pictured in August 2024 just beforehis passing

Twowalks of life working for kids in need

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

THEYcan changeyourlife equally as much as you change theirs.

Foster carecan often be taken for granted -‘they aresomeone else’s problem’ can probably be heard muttered if aconversation everaroseinregards to thethousands of young people not privileged to the traditional home life.

It could be for athousand different reasons completely out of the kids’ hands.

CarltonAFLW coach Mathew Buck and his wife Rachael are one of afew impressive stories, having cared for more than 100 young people in adecadelong span through MacKillop Family Services.

Once school teachers(Rachael as aformer school principal), together they realised achancetohelp the strugglingyouth, whichincluded Gippsland kids, in their Geelong community.

“We saw aneed in ourcommunity that vulnerable children needed some support and (a) safe place to go and stay, and look, we had aspare bedroom at our house and thought ‘why not’… Iguess it all started there,” Mathew said.

With what theywere doing, Mathew used this as away to instil powerful lessons into his own three children.

“Over the 10 years we’ve being doing it, our boys have grown up with it and through that (it’s) enabled us to have conversations with our boys around gratitude, understanding that we’re very gratefulfor what we haveand note everyone in our community is as lucky as we are,” he said.

“You discuss empathy and the reason we do these kinds of things is that we should help people when you’re fortunate enough that you should. It’s been abig journey, but we still enjoy doing it now.”

It’s created aspace that their kids have embraced, as Mathew said, they only get more excited when someone new around their age enters the fold to play with around the house, while also giving the foster child achancetoexperience acare-free run of life offering them distraction and comfort.

Mathewspoke of the unknown of starting this venture but how out of this unprecedented decision rose unbelievable two-way reward.

“There’s abit of anervous start, you’re not quite sure what you’re getting yourself into, but over time what we’ve learnt is that the kids really appreciate the help that you can give them when they come in and they come in to awarm meal and afriendly houseand asafe environment,” he said.

“You can see the look on their faces is one of gratitude and something we really enjoy seeing.”

Over the period, Mathew and Rachael have done emergency and respite care, and while encouraging more to take it up, Mathew simultaneously explained the common misconceptionoffoster care being that it doesn’t have to be afulltimegig.

“Foster care agencies are great at wrapping around support so that you can be afoster carer

one day amonthoryou can open your houseas much as it kind of suits you,” he said.

“We both obviously live prettybusy lifestyles and that kind of thing, so working with your agency to ensure that you can do it to atimethat suits you is one of the great things about foster care.”

GivenMathew’sduties as aprofessional football coach, it does offer some even greater perks, with

the kids on occasion being brought down to the Carlton facilities and to meet the AFLW players. TheBuck familyenjoy bringing these kids along forthe ride, whether it’s going to the local swimming pool on abeautiful, hot day or going to the footy, they just like being outside with them and experiencing life. Sometimes, given the amount of foster kids

they’ve had flow through their household over the years, they can come from anywhere -which Mathew said is the result of limited carer options that doesn’t meet the demands these young people deserve.

“Over the years, you find you get children from everywhere. What that tells us is that there is the need for foster care, and so we have some kids travel from Gippsland to our house in Geelong because there was no carer in between who could take them in on that particular time,” he said.

“There’s just such agreat need.”

Bringing it back locally, Kelly van den Meiracker is one of the hard-working and deeply caring workers at Anglicare Gippsland, who was recently nominated as afinalist in the Foster Care category at the 2024 Victorian Protecting Children Awards. Kelly has worked in the space for 17 years and justfromspeakingtoher,you can feelher passion and love for the job but, most importantly, the kids.

“(The nomination) was lovely, very unexpected. Ijust like to sit in the background but it was very nice to be noticed and recognised,” she said.

To go along with her work in foster care, Kelly heads quite the clan at home with five childrenfour of whom came to her through special needs adoption.

“I worked in aresidentialcare home and the kids there touched my heart, and Ithoughtwell I’ll go through (and) do somethingthat Iwanted to do with special needs adoption, which Iwas interested in,” she said.

Over aperiod of three years, Kelly answered the phone to the adoption agency and leapt at the opportunity to give these babies ahome and a family.

“They justlight up the room, they’re just amazing, amazing kids,” she said.

“And then recently, Igot aphone call about a six-year-old with special needs through complex needs and we brought her home in December and she’s just come so far and to see how far they come it’s justso, so worth it.”

Kelly echoed Mathew’sfeelings around the need for more foster carers regionally and the invaluable reward you get from it.

The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare Chief Executive, Deb Tsorbaris noted that Gippsland is one of the many regions in Victoria where “there has been anoticeable decrease in active foster households, creating apressing need for local families to step forward.”

“Thereare so many kidsout therewho need a family -they bring more into yourlifethen you could ever bring into theirs,” she said.

“I’m just on my own, I’ve got five kids, and if Ican do it anyone can. It is such arewarding process.”

For more informationabout fostering achild or to reachyourlocal foster care agency, visit: fosteringconnections.com.au, or call 1800 013 088

Leonard pledges to set political games aside

INDEPENDENT candidate for Monash, Deb Leonard is advocating for resilient energy solutions in Gippsland.

More than 50,000 homes across Gippsland were left without power following last month’s storm, and Ms Leonard says she is more committed than ever to energy solutions that prioritise the needs of the community.

“We need to take the politics outofenergy policy,” Ms Leonard said.

“Our leaders need to focus on long term policy rather than playing political games for shortterm election points.”

As communities continue to clean-up after the storm, Ms Leonard said it is clear that severe weather events are becoming more frequent and disruptive.

Extreme storms took out atransmission tower last February, which resulted in much of the state losing power, some for weeks. The usually peaceful town of Mirboo North was devastated.

“Power outages not only impact daily life but also posesignificant riskstobusinesses, vulnerable residents, and essential services,”MsLeonardsaid.

“Dairy farmers struggle to milk their cows and local businesses face significant income losses. We must find sensible,immediate solutions to safeguardour community against future disruptions.”

Ms Leonardsaidsolutions to protect against outages include providinggreater subsidiesfor home batteries, and better policy for community battery storage systems.

“These solutionsnot onlyprotectagainst outages, they also provide lower power costs to households.

When so many households are struggling to meet all the bills, this initiative would provide substantial relief, according to Ms Leonard.

“Solutions like these can be implemented almost immediately -providing much needed cost of living relief.”

Ms Leonard contrasts this with the Coalition’s plan for nuclear energy reactors, which the party has estimated is at least 10 to 15 years from being operative.

Ms Leonard also supports the implementation of microgrids to enhance energy resilience and sustainability in the region.

Microgrids are localised energy systems that can operate independently from the main grid, integrating renewable energy sources like solar panels with batterystorage to provide reliable power, especially during outages.

“Every time the power goes out, the cost to the economy is huge. We can mitigate this loss by investinginsensible solutions that help people and businesses,” she said.

“Energycompanies likeSantos and Woodside have donated significant funds to the Liberal, Labor and National parties in the same financial year, and Ibelieve that such behaviour indicates the donors are buying influence rather than supporting awinner, and this influence is playing a significant part in holding back sensible energy solutions that lower costs for the community.

“We need politicians that do not have these allegiances with large energy corporations, and make evidence-based, futurefocused long-term decisions in thebestinterests of the Australia people.

“That Iwhy I’mrunning for election -I’m sick of politicians that don’t put our community first. The majorparties have been ignoring regional areas likeourswhenitcomes to issues like energy security.

“As an Independent MP, I’m not constrained by party politics or donor interests. I’llfight to get better solutionsfor the people of our community.”

Campaign trail: Independent candidate forthe federal seat of Monash, DebLeonard, chatting to local farmer,Fergus O’Conner Photograph supplied

Greater than the game: CarltonAFLWcoachMatthew Buckhas been afoster careertomany children, including kids from Gippsland. Photograph supplied

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Toastmasters celebrate centenary

DID you know that Toastmasters has been around for more than 100 years?

When Ralph C. Smedley formed the first official Toastmasters club in 1924, he sought to create a collaborative learning environment where young men could learn the art of public speaking.

Acentury later, nearly eight million members (of all genders) in 148 countries/territories around the world have worked on bettering themselves thanks to Smedley’s vision of aclub environment where members prepare and deliver speeches, respond to impromptu questions, and give and receive constructive feedback in afun and friendly environment run by volunteers.

Latrobe Valley Toastmasters was chartered on September 16, 2008.

It took almost three years of recruiting, training, receiving and seeking assistance and mentoring from sponsor clubs Berwick and Bairnsdale, from Area, District and Division officersincludingprevious club mentors Wilma Evans and Terry Pike to get up and running.

The club finally met the criteria, and were able to be registered as Latrobe ValleyToastmasters Club with Toastmasters International.

The LV club firstmet at the Morwell RSL,where the club'shumbleroots were planted, then to Traralgon at Lavalla CatholicCollege’s Library, and then finally, the club wasfortunate to partner with TraralgonNeighbourhood Learning House for apermanent room.

Christine Sindt, aclub leader at the time, helped create connections that helped the club secure its central location.

Latrobe ValleyToastmastersisa safe and welcoming environment where people can take risks and trynew things. Makingmistakesis encouraged, and even if people bomb out when they speak, they are in goodcompany because they are with like-minded individuals who have all stepped into the same arena.

In 1989, membership reached150,000, with members based in South Africa, the Phillippines, and Singapore.

In 2003, the World Headquarters officially went online to manage administrative operations. Acomputer system wasimplemented for staff to process online renewal payments, new member payments, education awards, and other transactions.In2004, membershipreached 200,000, with more than 10,000 clubs formed now inclusive of Japan, China, India and areas of South America.

In 2017, Toastmasters embraced the digital learning experience by introducing Pathways, and later by making it the official learning program of the organisation in 2020.

In 1930, the organisation’s firstbulletin TheGavel was published. In 1935, the first Toastmasters club outside NorthAmerica charters in Southport,England was declared.

In 1938, the first Inter-Club Speech Contest, saw members compete against each other, with the event later becoming the International Speech Contest.

The contest now culminates in the World Championship of Public Speaking each yearat the Toastmasters International Convention.In that same year, the International Toastmistress

On October 22, 1924, around two dozen men met in the basement of the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, which marks the birth of today’s Toastmasters.

Italian festa in recess

FOLLOWINGarecentmeeting, the Mirboo North Italian Festa Committee has announced that the festival will not take place in 2025.

Thisdecisioncomes in response to aseries of challenges that have increasingly complicated the event’s organisation.

The decision is attributedtoseveral factors: financial constraints, an overwhelming workload, complex riskmanagement and compliance requirements, and agrowing number of other festivals held around the same time, all requiring sponsorship and support from local businesses and community groups.

As the festival’s popularity has surged, the South Gippsland Council now recognisesitasamajor event,addingtothe administrative burdenonthe small team of 10 volunteers.

Rosie Romano, one of the organisers, expressed her regret, stating:“thefesta has grownsignificantly each year since itsinceptionin2016. We are proud of its status as ahighly anticipated event that attracts visitors fromacross the state. However, the increase in attendees has led to acorresponding rise in the workload required to organise the festival.” Romano further explained: “The festival demands extensive risk management, trafficcontrol, and emergency planning. Securing adequate fundingfor such alarge-scale event is asignificant challenge.

Grant applications have becomemore complex, often spanning 30 pages with numerous attachments, reflecting the event’s increased scope. This requiresmeticulous organisation, management, and safety considerations.”

The Festahas always been afree public event thathas providedsubstantial economic benefitsto the local South Gippsland and broader Gippsland community.

Ms Romano acknowledgedthe wonderful supportfrom many local sponsors and various organisations, including the Mirboo North and District Community Bank and Foundation, South Gippsland Council, Destination Gippsland, as well as the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

However, she also noted that financialpressures are affecting everyone, including sponsors. Additional fundingand volunteer supportare crucial to maintaining the event’s viability.

Given these challenges,the committee has determined that it is not feasible to hold the event in 2025.

As the communityprocessesthis news, the future of the festival remains uncertain, with hopes that it may resume in the coming years.

Farm forestrygrant program set to benefit many avenues

MORE than20,000nativetree seedlings are nowavailable to farmers as part of the state government’s Gippsland Farm Forestry Grant program.

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action staffatNoojee have taken delivery of the seedlings, which will support the establishment of plantations on farms in Gippsland. The seedlings include Shining Gum, Spotted Gum, Yellow Stringybark, SilvertopAsh and Black Wattle.

Staff at DEECA’s Noojee work centre are closely monitoring and tending to the seedlings beforebeing delivered to the grant recipients’ farms where they willbeincorporated into woodlots, shelterbelts and wide space plantations.

Up to 10,000seedlings have already been earmarked for asmall farm in West Gippsland and will be moved there once the site is ready for planting. Generally,the seedlingsare planted when the weather is favourable; this is when they are least likely to be subjected to heavy frosts and have abetter survival rate.

The benefits of farm forestry for farmers and

private landholders include providing shelterfor stock, crops and pastures, as well as adiversified income stream through sale of timber. There are also environmental benefits such as carbon storage and habitat creation.

In additiontothe trees for farm forestry,

DEECA’s Noojeework centre staff are also looking after another 12,000 Messmate and YellowStringybark seedlings that are part of the ongoing regeneration of timber harvest areas.

DEECA's Senior Project Officer, Plantations, TrevorNicklen, said incorporatingtimber trees and establishing plantations on farms can produce arange of economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits, including sequestering carbon andincreasing the supplyofdomestically grown timber products.

“The grant program can assist farmers and landholders to establish timber belts, woodlots and wide spaced plantings on their properties,” he said. Find out moreabout the Gippsland Farm Forestry Grant program at: agriculture.vic. gov.au/crops-and-horticulture/farm-forestry/ gippsland-farm-forestry-grant-program

Clubs (ITC) was supported to incorporate as a women-only group to parallel the (men only) Toastmasters experience.

In 1951, regional educationalconferences began to bring together members on alocal scale, first in Des Moines, Iowa, and then in Columbus, Ohio. In 1973 at the InternationalConvention, delegates votedtoallow clubs to admit female membersinto the organisation, effective immediately. By 1978, it was no longer allowed for clubs to organise along gender lines, making Toastmasters amore unified and inclusive organisation. In 1977, Evelyn Jane Burgay, becames the first woman to takefirst place with her speech ‘A Tool for Survival’ at the world champion of public speaking.

While the traditional, printed educational materials served the members well for decades, pathways were customised to members’ professionaland personal goals and reflected the most progressive concepts in instructional design and adult learning. In 2018for the first time, all three winners of the World Championship of Public Speaking were women, consisting of Ramona J. Smith, of Houston, Texas, Zifang 'Sherrie' Su, of Tianjin, China, and Anita Fain Taylor, DTM, of Pembroke Pines, Florida. In 2020,Toastmasters embraced the onlinespace. Priorto2020, Toastmasters was an in-person learning experience. Within acouple of months, most clubs were hosting online meetings. Districts held online conferences in May and June, and in August, more than 65,000 people registered to watch the first-everonline Toastmasters International Convention.

LatrobeValleyToastmasters runeverysecond and fourth Wednesday of themonth (arrive at 7.15pm for a7:30pm start). Themeeting lastsabout 90 minutes.

Traralgon NeighbourhoodLearning House is located at 11/13 Breed Street, Traralgon. If youcan not make it in person you can also join viaZoom. Email: latrobevalleytm@gmail.com for more information.

Packed: TheMirboo North ItalianFestaisone of the biggest community festivals in the region.

Optimistic: Hopes remain that the festacan returnatalater date. File photographs

Mother honoured in fundraiser

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

MOE was the host of awonderful day celebrating all those we’ve tragically lost.

On October 19, Sharnae Williams put together the Mingle for Mimi fundraiser in honour of her late mother, Lorelle Pleysier.

Close to 90 peoplecame to the event, held at Twenty 20 Tapas, Moe.

Live music, asilentauction and agrand raffle took place, as acommunity of friends and family cametogether to raise moneyand support all those affected by breast cancer.

Mrs Williams raised$7354,which far surpassed her goal of $5000.

“I am absolutely amazed by the love and support we have been shown,” she said.

“We had people from New Zealand, Deniliquin, Wangaratta, Melbourne and Gippslandattend ‘Mingle for Mimi’.”

Mrs Williams hopes the fundraiser can help those fighting for their lives now and those into the future.

Legacy: Sharnae Williams raised morethan $7000 through her fundraiser forthe National Breast Cancer Foundation in honour of herlate mother.Pictured with Sharnae is Dale Williams (left), Siemon Pleysier,(front) Fraser,and Fletcher Photograph supplied

“My mum battled metastatic breast cancer for over 10 years. Her strength was admired by all of those around her,” she said.

“She never complained.

“Over the years shewas apartofmany trial drugs that would aid in researchfor others battling the same disease.She wascompletelyselfless and always willing to put herself forward in hope that it would ease another’s pain.”

Cancer is something thatpushesits way into many families and its period of aguish is one that will never go away, even once it has taken loved ones.

“(It’s) abit of light in what has felt somedays like utterdarkness,” Mrs Williams saidofthe fundraiser.

“Purpose and distraction, something beautiful all in mum’s memory.”

Mrs Williams was supported entirely in the lead up and throughout the day by her father, Siemon and her husband, Dale.

Growing Gippsland’sleaders

APPL ICAT IONS for the 2025 Gip psla nd Community Leadership Program (GCLP) are now open.

This marks the 29th year of identifying and empowering leaders across Gippsland.

Committee for Gippsland ChiefExecutive, Tony Cantwell said GCLP was one of Australia's longest-runningregional leadership programs, and continuedtoplay avital role in developing local leaders, particularly as the region faced an energy transition and the closure of the native timber industry.

"GCLP provides participants with an in-depth understanding of both the challenges and opportunitiesGippsland faces, whiledeveloping individual leadership skills and inspiring further community engagement," he said.

"This program emphasises the importance of community connectedness, encouraging participants to work with industry, community, government, regional leaders, local schools, sporting clubs, charities, or not-for-profits to drive positive change in Gippsland.

"The Committeefor Gippslandisproud to

be delivering the GCLP, building participants' confidence,leadership skills,and knowledge of the region while strengthening local communities and industry."

GCLPManager, Erika McInerneyhighlighted the impact of the program in cultivating local leadership.

"Our participants come from all walksoflife and industries, yet they share acommon passion for Gippsland's future," she said.

"Through GCLP, we aim to connect them with the right people and knowledge, enabling them to becomecatalystsfor positive change in their communities."

One of this year's participants, Stella Bodman from Yarram, said: "the Gippsland Community Leadership Program has encouraged me to come outofmyprofessionaland personal shell, to want to strive to be abetter version of myselfand to learn more about other people's stories".

For more information or to apply for the 2025 GCLP, visit: committeeforgippsland.com.au/ gippsland-community-leadership-program

Hip to be five square in Mirboo North

MIRBOO North is acommunity that loves to kick up its heels -from the Italian Festa to the Mirboo North Winterfest, Christmas in the ‘Boo, and the popular monthly Mirboo North Market, there’s always agood reason to come together and have agood time. This is not anew concept for the funloving locals, in fact, Mirboo North’s 5Square Ball hasbeen running for 77 years!

The town held this year's 5Square Ball recently, welcoming another good turnout.

The 5-Square Ball was originally formed in 1948 by agroup of Mirboo North businessmen looking for ameans of entertaining friends and clients.

The founding group of decided that each member should invite five guests to join them on their table.

The 5Square Ball has maintained much of that tradition, although the event now welcomes women members and table holders are not exclusively businesspeople. One thing that hasn’t changed is the anticipation that accompanies the leaduptothe ball. It is without doubt one of the social highlights of the year in Mirboo North.

The premise of the event remains the same -it’s held on the third Friday night in October and accommodates 25 tables of the table holder plus five guests. There are welcome drinks, athree-course meal, big live band and lots of dancing.

This year, local go-gettersKylie Cannizzo and Sarah Prime had been on amission to gather and document the history of this amazing event.

Theyspent hoursporing through documents at the MirbooNorth Historical Society, gathering invitations, dresses and accessoriesfrom yesteryear -even interviewing guests of the 5Square Ball some 50 years ago.

Kylieand Sarahhad the absolute pleasure of spending an afternoon with Mary Carter, who along with her husband, Wally, were icons of the 5SquareBall. Mary and Wally were table holders for around 50 years, andthe dup lovedhearingher stories of balls.

In days gone by, the band did not stop until 3am and it was commonplace for the party to carry on until not longbefore milking time. Nobody got a sleepin, someone had to go and get the cows in

Bacon and eggs were organised in advance so that breakfastwas on hand no matterwhere people ended up.

One of Kylie and Sarah’s favourite stories was the year The Hawking Brothers, aband from the USA who played withJohnny Cash and June Carter, were secured for the ball.

Thelocal home economic teacherswere reached, and Forms 2-4put in charge of catering and waitressing so that money could be diverted to pay for the band. Then, when it came time for the music to end, ahat was passed around and enough was collected to keep the music going for another couple of hours.

Keeping track of local history

ANEW take on the Morwell to Mirboo Railway using readily availableresources hasbeen published.

From Branch Line to Rail Trail details the steps involvedwith converting partofthe disusedrailway line into what is now the Grand Ridge Rail Trail (GRRT).

Author and Mirboo and DistrictHistorical Society member Rob Waycott argues that in the same way that the branch line would never have happened withoutthe active support of the state government in the1880s,the establishment of the GRRT would not have taken place in 1996.

The Rail Trails Programwas launched in August 1994, and it wasn’t long before the same idea was appliedtothe former branch line to Mirboo North.

While the damage caused to the rail trail as a result of the Delburn Fires in 2009 was extensive,

so was the generosity of donors in the wake of the Black Saturday fires aweek later. This made possible, for instance,the now iconic‘mini-Sydney Harbour Bridges’ namedafter notable Wednesday Warriors, Neil Cartwright and Neil Trease.

The construction phase in the 1880s introduces ahost of characters that were hard living but also hard working.Another feature of this work highlights the role women played.

The name of the station at Mirboo North changed anumberoftimes. When it was officially opened in January 1886 it was called Mirboo, but by the end of the month its name was changed to North Mirboo. The announcement that it would change its name again, this time to Mirboo North, was made in 1929. This wasn’t implemented until 1932

“I consider myself very luckytohave access to informationdeniedtoprevious generations,”

Rob says, giving the examples of Sydney Morning Herald,and The Weekly Times editorials from the initial phase of construction.

“I also wanted to acknowledge the many hours of volunteer labourput in by the ‘Wednesday Warriors’,the group of volunteers who have maintained the rail trail."

Mirboo and District HistoricalSociety will launch the book today (Wednesday, October 30) from 4pm, upstairs in the Mirboo North ShireHall Mirboo North.

Books can be ordered through the Mirboo and District Historical Societyfor $40 each (plus $10 if postageisrequired) by email to mirboohs@gmail. com, or mobile on 0408 595 767.

An invitation is extended to anyone interested in local railways and would enjoy reading about the Morwell to Mirboo North branch line that closed 50 years ago in 1974.

Seeing Sounds on displayat Arc Yinnar

ARC Yinnarhas opened anew exhibition, ‘Seeing Sounds’

The exhibition is an exploration of sound, movement and silentlanguage. The five artists involved in the exhibition havemanyinterpretations on thistheme, from the sound of paper as you walkthrough the installation, to the word ‘crackle’ written in manylanguages. The artistssaidthat youcan imagine birdsplayingwith one another around abird bath with MiriamPottsartworks. Sharon Anderson’s tree drawings explore line and textureand delve into asilent way of hearing. Thetreesthemselves invite sounds from nature. Liz Tyler’sprints tell amoving storywhere ahuman figure floats and sinks overand again.Claire Anderson Woolley’s mixed media workexplores forms of communication beyondlanguage using energies. People can view ‘SeeingSounds’ until November 17

Arc Yinnar’sopening hours are Thursday to Sunday 12pm to 4pm. The galleryislocated in the main street of Yinnar

Informative: Local historian RobWaycotthas penned the storyofthe Morwell to Mirboo railway.

Out now: Copies areavailable from the Mirboo District Historical Society. Photographs supplied

Tradition: TheMirboo North 5SquareBall hasbeenrunning forcloseto80years. Photographs supplied

Good company: Andy McCarthy,KellyMcCarthy, DaleyThompson, Suzanne Thompson, Wayne Roberts and KarenWoods enjoying the ball.

Sheep dog trials on the way to Boolarra

THE popularity of muster dogs like Border Collies and Kelpies is on the rise.

Their instinct and skill for mustering livestock is second to none.

The value they bring to safe and effective farming is once again being realised.

They are also fierce competitors when puttothe test in competitions.

Next month, the best muster dogs will be invading Gippsland in two of the best working dog competitions in Victoria.

Boolarra will host trials from November 15 to 17, following Korumburra on November 9-11.

At each event, more than100 dogswillbecompeting with their handlers.

Over thethreedays they willtake on more than 400sheep,each dog having to work three sheep at atime around aset course.

The pressure builds as each doghas only 15 minutes to complete the course and is judged on its ability to handle the sheep through the obstacles.

Spectators will be mesmerised as dog, sheep and handler work in synergy to combine instinct,skill, and patiencetofind out whowill be champion dog

The dogs are the stars of the show. While they may seemingly look alike, each one is acharacter unto their own and it shows as they contend with the often-uncooperative sheep.

The sport of working sheep dog trials arose from

healthy competition between farmersand their dogs and, over time, has become aworldwide sport.

The purpose of the sheep dog trial is to demonstrate the skill of the handler in positioning the dog to where it’srequired and guiding the dog’s natural instincts while it’s herding three sheep around a course consisting of three obstacles and apen.

The course is intended to show the heightened skills of the sheep dog requiredinatypical working environment. Sheep dog trials are used by farmers and workingdog handlerstohonethe instinct and skilloftheir dogs so they become valuable workers for herding and mustering livestock.

TheSouth EasternVictorian SheepDog Trial is astaple event in Gippsland.

Forthree days the Korumburra Showgrounds willgiveupits role as thetown’s football and cricket ground and be taken over by muster dogs and sheep.

Competitors from all over Victoria and interstate will camp out at the showgrounds, creating avery social and engaging event.

The Berryden Sheep Dog Trial is aprestigious eventthat has been running for more than 10 years in the heart of Gippsland’s farming communities.

The picturesque setting of Boolarra Recreation Reserve is this year’s venue for the event, where there will be threefull days of muster dog activities.

Boolarra is set to welcome some of the best working dogs across thestate next month.

Dairyprofits above average for fifth-straight year

ANEW report has found Victorian dairy farm profits in 2023/24 were above the long-term average for afifth consecutive year.

The 2023-2024 Dairy Farm Monitor is an annual survey tracking 80 dairy farm businesses state wide. In 2023/24,averageprofit was strongat$629,000 or $2.64 per kilograms of milk solids.

The varied seasonalconditions across the state for 2023/24 influenced performance and costs among the regions.

Average milk price fell slightly to $9.64 per kilogram milk solids -aone per cent decrease on the previous year’s very high price -while totalcosts for the 2023/24 period remained stable.

Agriculture Victoria FarmBusiness Economists ProgramManager, Claire Waterman said: “Dairy Farm Monitor participants produced more milk across the state and increased homegrown feed production for theirherds, despite somechallenges including dry seasonalconditions in theSouth West and aslightlylower milk price than last year."

"We thank the Dairy Farm Monitor project participants for their dedicated support to this initiative, providing such valuable information to industry and government."

Dairy Farm Monitor is apartnershipwith Dairy Australia, collecting and analysing financial and production data from dryland and irrigated dairy

farms in south-western Victoria, Gippsland and northern Victoria.

Dairy AustraliaGeneral Manager Research and Innovation, Greg Jarman said the Dairy Farm Monitor Project provides vital insight into the factorsaffecting the profitabilityand sustainability of dairy farms

"The data and insights gained fromthe project assist farmersand service providersindecision making and support Dairy Australia and the Victorian government by providing independent and reliable information to inform investment and resource allocation to priority areas," Mr Jarman said.

"This ensures we maintain our focus on the projects and activities that will have the greatest impact on the long-term profitability and sustainability of the dairy industry."

The 80 project participants represented adistribution of farm size, feeding systems and herd sizes. There was around 2768 dairy farm businesses in Victoria that produced5.3 billion litres or 63 percent of Australia’s national milk production in 2023/24.

The 2023/24Dairy Farm Monitor reportis available on the Agriculture Victoria website at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/about/agriculture-in-victoria/ dairy-farm-monitor-project

Gwalia Street and LiddiardRoad

Speak up: Sheep dogs work to help muster stockfor localfarmers. Photographs supplied

Round:

HOROSCOPES

by Joanne Madeline Moore

October 28 –November 3, 2024

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19)

Expect some highs and lows this week, Rams Your ruler, Mars, trines Neptune and Mercury, which is terrific for creativity and communication, as you get your message out loud and clear But Sundays Mars/Pluto opposition could stir up anger or resentment, especially involving work issues or a family matter Try to release angry feelings in appropriate ways – via a good cry, a deep and meaningful talk with a friend, or a robust pillow-punching session!

Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20)

Bulls prefer to plod along in a methodical fashion but, this week, you could experience challenges and disruptions! Saturn squares your ruler Venus and Mercury opposes Uranus (in your sign), so life could be stressful and unpredictable If you prioritise and are mentally flexible, then you ll handle the hurly-burly with less stress and strain Close relationships are also in a state of New Moon flux The more adaptable you are the better the final outcome will be

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

You could become anxious, as your daily routine is disrupted in some way or your enthusiasm for a work project could overtake your ability to knuckle down and get the job done If you promise more than you can deliver, then other people will just end up disappointed So slow down and listen to the wisdom of your inner voice – it will point you in the direction that’s right for you Being creative and proactive will also lead to success and satisfaction

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22)

This week a child, teenager, friend or lover could shock you by making a surprise move, or a group project could suddenly veer off in an unexpected direction If you keep your adaptability muscles well-flexed then you’ll adjust to the constantly changing landscape accordingly With peace planet Venus visiting your job zone, stop sulking and stewing over a perceived slight from a work colleague, client or customer Its time to cooperate, compromise and sympathise!

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22)

Leos love to be Top Cat, but this week you need to ask yourself: “Am I leading others or just bossing them around? If you power ahead without considering other people, then you ll create unnecessary chaos and disruption Do your best to accommodate the needs of those around you Life will also run more smoothly if you incorporate a spiritual ritual into your daily domestic routine Something like yoga, tai chi, chanting, meditation or creative visualisation

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22)

When it comes to the way you think, blast out of a boring rut and jump into an exciting new phase Use your imagnation and think outside the box as the Sun, New Moon, Mercury and Uranus activate your communication zone So stop avoiding ssues and start discussing what you real y want and need You can’t expect other people to magically read your mind! For some c ever V rgos, a jo nt venture or a creat ve online project has the potentia to fly

The week starts with taskmaster Saturn squaring your patron planet, Venus, which could increase self-criticism and your obsession with perfection Then Fridays New Moon illuminates your self-esteem zone when its a good time to boost your confidence, be the authentic you, and celebrate your so-called flaws! The New Moon and Mercury-Uranus opposition also highlight the importance of having a smart savings’ plan and a wellstocked emergency fund

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

This week the Sun, New Moon and Mercury are transiting through your sign And the Mercury/Uranus and Mars/Pluto oppositions could disrupt relationships and rattle your resilience But its time to bounce back, as you demonstrate (and celebrate) your strengths –including courage and persistence Your motto is from Scorpio actress Julia Roberts (who turns 57 on Monday): “I’m better for all the things that have happened to me, the good and the bad

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)

The week starts with a tricky Venus/Saturn square, which could exacerbate a relationship issue or a financial problem With the Sun, New Moon and Mercury visiting your hopes-and-wishes zone, it’s important to have ambitious long-term goals that you’re working towards You ll have to be patient, though, as you focus on bringing your dreams down to earth via a practical plan Then – when everything is in place – you ll know the perfect time to pounce

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)

This week Pluto pushes your insecurity buttons which could activate your protective Capricorn shield But the more defensive – and resistant to change – you are, the more exhausted you’ll feel And the more difficult the week will be Try to get the balance right between maintaining the status quo (with things that are working) and changing the aspects of your life that aren t functioning well A close relationship certainly needs to be reviewed and renewed

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)

The Mercury/Uranus opposition suggests a house move, family drama, uninvited guests dropping in or some other kind of domestic disruption And some Aquarians could experience changes at work Whatever happens, strive to get the balance right between your public life and your private responsibilities The planets also push you to reinvent a professional relationship Just be careful you don’t get carried away and throw the baby out with the bathwater

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20)

Are your aspirat ons for the future ambit ous enough? The current stars favour rum nat ng over big-picture ideas And there s no room for false modesty or pass ve Piscean procrastination as you en oy ta k ng, text ng, posting, promoting, soc a ising and circulating The terrific Mars/Neptune trine encourages you to come up w th a creat ve p an, and then pursue t An unwelcome surpr se could unsettle you, so ho d tight and expect the unexpected!

COPYRIGHTJoanneMadelineMoore2024

Traralgon CBD

AS part of local history, the origins of local street names will be identified as per research by the Traralgon District Historical Society. If people have different thoughts of the origins, mentioned get in touch with the society.

We start with the Central Business District (CBD)ofTraralgon, as defined in the Part Planof Traralgon drawn in 1858 (Lands Dept.) encompassing streets from Grey Street to Hotham St. Other streets wereaddedasthe CBD grew withmore businesses.

Franklin Street: namedafter SirJohn Franklin, Governor of Van Deimen’s Land; Argyle St: Scottish name suggested by James Campbell, shire secretary and engineer. Was once part of Kay St; Seymour St: an officer in the Imperial Services; Hotham St: Sir Charles Hotham, Governor of Victoria (1854-55); Church St: alarge number of churches; Service St: Sir James Service, Commissioner of Crown Lands 1859; Kay St: J.H. Kay, Clerk of the Executive Council 1859; Deakin St: SirAlfred Deakin, Australia’s second PrimeMinister; Grey St: English Statesman Lord Grey;

Livingston St: Hon. ThomasLivingston Member Legislative Assembly; Wright St: Mr JWrightwho lived in the vicinity for years;

Breed St: Councillor Harry Breed; Princes Street: part of Princes Highway, and; Methodist Lane: OldSite of Methodist Church. The following Streets in the CBD have been absorbed into new developments: Mill Street: site of the first sawmill owned by John Peterkin (now part of the highway); Mitchell St: Thomas Mitchell, an early licenseeof the Traralgon Hotel(nowunder Traralgon Centre Plaza);

Cumming St: councillor W.E. Cumming, shire president 1923 (now under the plaza), and; McClean Street: councillor J. McLean, shire president 1892-93 (now under the plaza).

(Source: The River of Little Fish-Ahistoryof Traralgon, by William JCuthill -first published 1970).

Editor's note: Many thanks to Traralgon District, Morwell and Moe historical societies for providing information into local street names. They have proven popular among readers. Ihope to see more correspondence sent through.

MEMBERfor Eastern Victoria and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Volunteers, Melina Bath is encouraging all volunteers to take part in newresearchtogaugethe state of volunteering in Victoria.

Ms Bath said the study, which is being conducted by Volunteering Victoria, aims to capture trends and challenges in volunteering.

To attend aforum onlineorinperson or take the volunteer managers’ survey, visit: volunteeringvictoria.org.au/ get-involved-state-of-volunteering-vic/#forums

“Each and every day volunteers generously donate their time and talents, making apositive contribution to our communities," Ms Bath said.

“Whether it’s delivering emergency services, caring for ourenvironment,fundraising,coaching or administering sport or cultural activities, or providing social support to people in need, our volunteers are truly the heart and soulofcommunity.

“Our volunteers help keep us connected -and their combined efforts make us all happierand healthier.

“In 2019 the State of Volunteering report told us our hardworking volunteers contributed astaggering $58.1 billion worth of benefits across Victoria.

“This latestresearch being conducted by Volunteering Victoria will provide an updated understanding of our volunteers and their contribution, and be used to drive meaningful change in the industry.”

The VolunteeringVictoria research team is hosting in-depth qualitative research sessions online and in person for volunteer managers,emergency services volunteers, Volunteering Victoria

bers, youth volunteers and online volunteers in both regional and metropolitan locations.

Sketch: An early map of Traralgon.

Photograph supplied

TheGuide

BRAND BOLLYWOOD DOWNUNDER

SBSViceland, Friday, 9.30pm

Borne of the Indian culture’srich storytelling historyand the advent of motion pictures, the Hindi film industry–orBollywood (a portmanteau of “Bombay” and “Hollywood”) –isrenowned forits colourful costumes,spectacular settings, sweeping romances and, of course, its signaturedance scenes. In an illuminating and informativefeature, filmmaker Anupam Sharma (pictured, unIndian)discovers how this expressive and celebratoryform of cinema swept theworld andformed aparticularly strong love affair with Australia. Featuring an abundance of clips among commentaryfromcritics, experts and industryprofessionals including Amit Khanna and Anupam Kher,this entertaining doco is catnip forcinephiles.

GREAT AUSTRALIAN CONCERTS:

FINN/KELLY

SBS Viceland, Saturday, 8.30pm

Nothinginspires FOMO (that is,Fear of Missing Out) quite likealive concert or superstar spectacle. From sellout pop phenomenonsto farewell tours, these cultural touchstonescan be the hottestticketin town, and who doesn’t love to say,“Oh, Isaw them in their heyday”, when areunion tour rollsaround? This time capsule of aseries, hosted by Mark Lizotte, akaDiesel, is hereto cureany regrets by revisiting Australian music’sgreatestshows. Tonight,it’s Paul Kellyand Neil Finn’s 2013 gig,“Goin’Your Way”, at the SydneyOpera House. Aonce-in-a-lifetime experience,it’snot to be missedand there’sluckily no limittothe numberofencores played.

Wednesday, October 30

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

TOKYOVICE

SBS Viceland, Sunday, 9.25pm

Loosely based on the real-lifeexperiences of American journalist JakeAdelstein,this gritty bilingual thriller opensa door to Tokyo’s criminal underworld in the late’90s. Viewers’patience with the series’slowexpositionisabout to pay off,asthe actionkicks up a gear in tonight’sdouble-episode return. It neatly tiesupthe loose ends of its firstseason in apremierethat feels morelikeanoverdue season finale. Atime jump then takesJake(BabyDriverstar Ansel Elgort,pictured) off the yakuza beat,lands DetectiveKatagiri (Ken Watanabe, TheLastSamurai)ondeskdutyand reveals the fate of conflicted Chihara-kai enforcer Sato (Show Kasamatsu)

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.45 Q+A. (R) 11.50 Gardening Australia:MyGarden Path. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address. 1.35 Media Watch.(PG,R) 1.50 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG,R) 2.20 Space 22. (PG, R) 3.00 ABite To Eat With Alice.(R) 3.25 Love Your Garden. (R) 4.15 GrandDesigns. (PG,R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

7.30

8.00 Hard Quiz (PG) 8.30 Question Everything. Presented by Wil Anderson and JanFran. 9.05 Fisk. (Ml, R) Helen finds herself obligated to help 9.30 Planet America.

10.05 Spicks AndSpecks. (PG,R)

10.35 Adam Hills:The Last Leg. (R) 11.20 ABC Late News. 11.35 The Business. (R) 11.50 In Limbo.(Mals, R) 12.50 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 1.35 Killing Eve. (Mv, R) 2.20 Rage (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 Catalyst. (R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

Heroes. 4.30 Mecha Builders. 4.40 PeterRabbit. 4.55 Bluey. 5.00 Peppa Pig. 5.15 Supertato 5.20 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 5.35 Fireman Sam. 5.45 Kiri And Lou. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.05 Kangaroo Beach. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Pfffirates. 6.50 Ginger And The Vegesaurs. 6.55 Hey Duggee. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Puppy! AHotel Transylvania Short Film. 7.35 Little Lunch. 7.50 Operation Ouch! 8.20 BTN Newsbreak. 8.25 Doctor Who. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

MATLOCK 10, Monday, 8.40pm

There’smorethan meetsthe eyetoformerlawyerMadeline Matlock (Kathy Bates, pictured) in this reimagining of the iconic’80s mystery drama, and the same is true forthe reboot itself.Afolksywidow raisingher grandson after the loss of her daughter,Madeline uses the wayotherstreat people of her age and gender as asecret weapon: flying under the radar and infiltrating the officesofprestigious law firm Jacobson Moore. Even though Madeline hasn’t practised law for morethan 30 years, senior partner Julian (Jason Ritter) is so impressed by Madeline’s moxie that he offers her ajob.Stay tuned forthe final scenes of this premiere–athrilling twistreveals Madeline’s motivation forreturning to the workforce.

TEN (10, 5)

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Destination Flavour.(R) 9.15 Paul O’Grady ForThe Love Of Animals. (PGa, R) 10.10 Home Is Where The ArtIs. (PG, R) 11.00 Icons. (PGav,R) 12.00 BBC NewsAtTen. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 SecretsOfThe Royal Palaces.(PG,R) 2.50 Scotland: Escape To The Wilderness. (PG, R) 3.40 The Cook Up (R) 4.10 LukeNguyen’s India. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorningShow. (PG) 11.30 SevenMorning News. 12.00 My KitchenRules. (PGl, R) 1.35 BorderSecurity: International (PG, R) 2.05 Catch Phrase. (PG, R) 3.00 TheChase. (R) 4.00 SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChaseAustralia. 6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 TheBlock.(PGl,R) 1.00 Paramedics. (PGam, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point (PG, R) 4.00 9NewsAfternoon 4.30[VIC]TippingPoint Australia.(PG) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30[VIC]WINNews. 6.00 The

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Portillo’s Andalucia: Cadiz AndJerez. (Ml) 8.25 History’sGreatestMysteries: TheHindenburgDisaster. (Premiere, Maw) Takesalook at theHindenburg disaster

9.20 TheOld Man. (Premiere, MA15+v) Aretired CIA agent is hunted. 10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Carmen Curlers. (Malsv) 1.15 Romulus. (Masv, R) 3.15 Paddington Station 24/7.(PGal,R) 4.05 Peer To Peer.(PG R) 4.35 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANCPhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 HomeAnd Away (PG) Remi comesinto money

7.30 The1%Club UK. (PGl, R) Hosted by LeeMack.

8.30 Lawrence Mooney: Embracing Your Limitations. (MA15+as)

Astand-up performance by Australian comedianLawrence Mooney

10.00 Australia: NowAnd Then. (Madln, R) Part 4of4

11.00 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.30 Chicago Fire. (Ma)

12.30 Stan Lee’sLucky Man. (MA15+av) 1.30 Harry’sPractice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise 5am News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News

7.00 ACurrentAffair

7.30 TheBlock (PGl) Thedelivery of apalmtreecausesmayhem.

8.40 Listing Melbourne. (Ml) The agents face newchallenges.

9.55 Britain’s Most Expensive Houses. (PGl) 11.00 9News Late.

11.30 Law&Order:Organized Crime. (MA15+av)

12.15 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.05 Hello SA (PG) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop.(R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victory.(PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 5.00 TodayEarly News. 5.30 Today

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer 6.30 TheProject Alook at the day’snews. 7.30 Shark Tank (PGa)

Sissi. (1955,German) 5.30 Basmati Blues. (2017,PG) 7.30 BlowDry.(2001, M) 9.10 IWant You Back. (2022, M) 11.20 Viva. (2007, MA15+) 1.35am Strangerland. (2015,MA15+) 3.40 The Father (2020,M) 5.30 The Movie Show

Coast 8.00 AFootballLife. 9.00

Supercars

Day1.Highlights. 10.00 StorageWars 10.30 AmericanRestoration. 11.00 American Pickers. Noon Pawn Stars. 1.00 Outback Truckers. 3.00 Billy TheExterminator 3.30 Cities Of The Underworld. 4.30 Storage Wars 5.00 American Restoration. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Highway Patrol. 8.30 The Force: Behind TheLine. 9.30 World’sWildest Police Videos. 11.30 Late Programs.

Centre stage: Paul Kellyand NeilFinn’s Sydney Opera Houseshowgetsanencore.

PICK OF THE WEEK

Thursday,October 31

MorningPrograms. 10.00 Home Is Where The ArtIs. (R) 10.55 Vienna: Empire, Dynasty And Dream. (PGa, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Secrets Of TheRoyal Palaces. (PGa, R) 2.50 Scotland: Escape To The Wilderness. (PGadl, R) 3.40 The Cook Up (PG, R) 4.10 LukeNguyen’s India. (PG,R) 5.05 Jeopardy!(R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R) Presented by Marc Fennell. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (Return, PG)ErnieDingo headstoNingaloo Reef

Nicky Campbellhelp people find their long-lost relatives.

9.45 Fake Or Fortune? ADouble Whodunnit (R) Part 4of5

10.45 ABC LateNews.

11.00 TheBusiness. (R)

11.20 Take 5With Zan Rowe: Bernard Fanning (PG,

Garden.(PG,R) 2.10 Rage

3.25 Rage Closer. (R) 3.30 Catalyst. (PG,R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.50 Ginger AndThe Vegesaurs. 6.55 Hey Duggee. 7.05 Andy AndThe Band. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Monster Pets: AHotel Transylvania Short Film 7.35 Little LunchSpecials 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.15 BTN Newsbreak. 8.20 The Wonderful World Of Puppies. 9.05 Teenage Boss: Next Level. 9.35 Doctor Who. 10.20 Merlin 11.05 Late Programs.

8.30 NationalParks From Above: France. (PG)Takes alook at theCevennes National Park in France, which is aremote expansefilledwith emerald-green valleys. 9.25 Paris HasFallen. (M)Jacob Pearce is at last in custody,but he still has one lastcardtoplay. 10.20 SBS WorldNewsLate 10.50 Fallen. (MA15+ls) 12.35 Germinal (Masv, R) 3.35 Paddington Station24/7. (Ml, R) 4.25 Peer To Peer.(PG, R) 4.55 DestinationFlavour ChinaBitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The MorningShow. (PG) 11.30 SevenMorningNews. 12.00 MOVIE: DeadlyRideshare. (2020,Mav) Taylor Spreitler,Danielle Burgess, Amanda Grace Benitez. 2.00 Your Money&YourLife. (PG) 2.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R) 3.00 TheChase. (R) 4.00 SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChase Australia.

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Home And Away Justinfearsfor Theo 7.30 HighwayPatrol. (Return,PGal) Atradie crashes into aparked car 8.30 Australia’sMostDangerous Prisoners (MA15+av) Explores what lifebehind bars is likefor Derek Barrett, RebeccaButterfield and the killers of AnitaCobby

9.30 RonIddles: TheGood Cop: Jane Thurgood-Dove (Mav,R) RonIddles revisits the1997murder of JaneThurgood-Dove,a woman who wasgunned down in her driveway.

10.35 TheLatest: SevenNews. 11.05 What TheKiller Did Next: Nadine Aburas. (Mav,R) 12.05 MagnumP.I (Mav) 2.00 HomeShopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise 5am News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra.(PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 The Block. (PGl, R) 1.00 Space Invaders. (PGa, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 TippingPoint. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon 4.30[VIC]TippingPoint Australia.(PG) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG, R) 5.30[VIC]WINNews.

6.00 9News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair.

7.30 John Farnham: Celebrating 60 Years. (Ml) Acelebration of John Farnham.

9.20 RPA: Jamie’sBaby. (PGm)Inthe paediatric ED,atoddler is admitted in respiratory distress after an illness.

10.20 9News Late.

10.50 Casualty 24/7 (Mm, R) A76-yearold is in agony after an accident

11.40 Resident Alien. (Mav)

12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.20 My Way. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop (R) 3.00 TV Shop:HomeShopping (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer

6.30 TheProject. Alookatthe day’snews. 7.30 TopGear Australia. (Mln) Theteam heads off-road to go extremecaravanning. Beau races against Blairand Jonathan. 8.50 MOVIE: Mission: Impossible II (2000,Mv, R) Aspecial agent,investigating aplane crashthatkilled ascientist in possession of adeadly virus, uncovers the identity of the criminal mastermind behind it when the trail takes him to Sydney.Tom Cruise, Thandiwe Newton, Dougray Scott. 11.20 10’s Late News Coverage of news, sportand weather 11.45 TheProject. (R) Alook at theday’s news. 12.50 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG)Hosted by StephenColbert. 2.00 HomeShopping. (R) 4.30 CBSMornings. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 TheMovie Show Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 Hustle 1.20 WhoKilledThe WCW? 2.15 Ice Cowboys. 3.00 The Wine Lovers’ Guide To Australia. 3.35 WorldWatch. 5.30 GoneFishing With Mortimer &Whitehouse. 6.05 The Matchmakers. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats 8.30 America’s New Female Right. 9.40 The Amityville Horror 10.25 Late Programs.

Basmati Blues. (2017,PG) 8.00 Fried Green Tomatoes.(1991, PG) 10.25 Rabbit Hole.(2010 M) 12.10pm The Father.(2020,M) 1.55 Bright Star.(2009,PG) 4.05 Wide Open Sky.(2015) 5.40 DancingNinja. (2010,PG) 7.30 TheLawnmower Man. (1992,M) 10.10 Midsommar.(2019,MA15+) 12.50am Hereditary.(2018,MA15+) 3.10 IWant You Back. (2022, M) 5.15 Wide Open Sky.(2015) SBSWORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 1.35pm TheLore Of Love 2.00 Shortland St. 2.30 The Cook Up 3.00 Jarjums

Friday, November1

ABCTV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Planet America. (R) 10.30 Take 5WithZan Rowe.(PG,R) 11.00 Fake Or Fortune?(R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Miniseries: Nolly.(Ml, R) 1.45 Plum. (Mal, R) 2.55 ABite To Eat With Alice. (R) 3.25 Love Your Garden. (R) 4.10 Grand Designs Revisited. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6am MorningPrograms. 10.50 Vienna: Empire, Dynasty And Dream. (PGas, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Secrets Of The Royal Palaces. (PGa, R) 2.50 Such WasLife. (R) 3.00 NITV News: Nula. 3.30 Plat Du Tour 3.40 The Cook Up.(R) 4.10 LukeNguyen’s India. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters AndNumbers. (R)

Lost TreasuresOfAncient Rome: Lost Ships Of Rome (PG) Alook at a1st-century Roman shipwreck.

8.30 Castle Secrets (Mav) Takesa look at castles, including aknight who becomestrapped in afortress while his nemesis lies patiently waiting.

9.25 Kennedy (Premiere) Alook at the life of JohnFKennedy 10 20 SBSWorld News Late. 10.50 The Lesson. (Premiere, Mal) 12.20 TheWall: CoverYour Tracks (Malsv, R) 3.40 Paddington Station24/7.(PGal,R) 4.30 Peer To Peer.(R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG) 11.30 SevenMorningNews 12.00 MOVIE: TheRight Mom. (2021,Mav) 2.00 Catch Phrase. (PG, R) 3.00 TheChase. (R) 4.00 SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChase Australia. 6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra.(PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: ForThe Love Of Chocolate. (2021, G, R) Rhiannon Fish, Jesse Hutch. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30[VIC]TippingPoint Australia.(PG) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG, R) 5.30[VIC]

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Johanna Griggs talks to Stephanie Alexander

8.30 Growing Home With Jamie Durie:The BigDig. (PG) Part 2of4 Jamie Durieisona search to find the right material to build his house.

9.30 TheDisappearanceOfGrace Millane. (Mas, R) The story of the 2018 murder of British backpacker Grace Millane and how her killer wascaught.

11.30 My Kitchen Rules (PGl,R)

1.05 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 1.35 Harry’sPractice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Million DollarMinute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair. 7.30 David Attenborough’s Planet EarthIII: Deserts And Grasslands. (PGa, R) Narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

8.40 MOVIE: London Has Fallen. (2016,MA15+lv,R)Terrorists launch a concentrated attack on theleaders of the Western world,who aregathering in London. Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart. 10.40 Race To TheMelbourne Cup Carnival.

Tipping Point. (PG, R)

Downunder 8.30 MOVIE: Sleeping With TheEnemy.(1991, M) 10.30 MOVIE: Suburbicon. (2017, MA15+) 12.30am Late Programs. 9GEM (92,81) 7TWO (72, 62) 6am Children’s Programs. Noon Gossip Girl. 2.00 La Brea. 3.00 The Golden Girls. 3.30 TheNanny 4.30 TheAddamsFamily 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 IDream Of Jeannie. 6.00 The Golden Girls. 6.30 TheNanny 7.30 MOVIE: BruceAlmighty.(2003,M) 9.30 MOVIE: Dumb And Dumber.(1994,PG) 11.45 TheO.C 12.45am LoveIsland UK. 1.45 The Nanny 2.45 Transformers: Cyberverse.

TEN (10, 5)

Deal OrNo Deal. (R)Contestants compete in ahigh-stakes game where they must beat The Bankertowin acashprize. 6.30 TheProject Thehosts and guest panellists takealookatthe

Saturday, November 2

ABCTV (2) SBS (3)

(7,6)

(9, 8) 6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Rage.(PG) 12.00 News. 12.30 Miniseries: The WarOf TheWorlds.(Mav, R) 1.25 Grantchester.(Mv R) 2.15 QuestionEverything. (R) 2.45 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 3.20 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery. (PG, R) 4.00 Dr CharlesPerkins Oration2024 4.30 BoyerLecture 2024: Professor Anna Goldsworthy 5.00 Take 5 With ZanRowe. (PG, R) 5.30 Landline. (R)

6.00 AustralianStor y: TheBig Lap –Fiona MacDonald. (R)Takes a look back at the late Fiona MacDonald.

6.30 Back Roads: Beechwor th, Vic toria. (PG, R) Annie Louey heads to Beechworth.

7.00 ABC News. Alookatthe topstories of the day

7.30 Grantchester (PGv)Alphy discovers awomanheknows has gonemissing,and he and Geordie race to findthe answers.

8.20 Vera (Mv,R)Part 2of4.After asurgeon is shot deadand his daughters abducted, DCI Stanhope and her team pursue the killer

9.50 Plum. (Mal, R) Plum’s ex-wife Renee is the only one aware of his dire medical prognosis, butshe urges him to shareit.

10.45 Countdown To War. (R) Part 2of3

11.30 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Music video clips.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 1.35pm Untold History Of The Pacific 2.00 Wild Rockies. 2.50 NITVNews: Nula. 3.20 Untold History Of ThePacific. 3.45 Great LakesWild. 4.15 MOVIE: Poly Styrene: IAmACliché.(2021,PG) 6.00 News. 6.10 PacificIsland Food Revolution. 7.00 The OtherSide. 7.30 Alone Australia. 8.30 MOVIE: Housebound.(2014, MA15+) 10.25 Ray Charles At Salle Pleyel. Midnight Late Programs.

6am MorningPrograms. 8.00 DD India News Hour 9.00 DestinationFlavour. (R) 9.05 Growing AGreener World. (R) 10.05 Love Your Garden. (PG, R) 11.00 Ageless Gardens. (R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World NewsTonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Figure Skating. ISUFigureSkating. Grand Prix1 Highlights. 4.30 Plat Du Tour 4.35 Ancient Egypt By Train.(R) 5.30 Clash Of Titans. 6.00 NBCToday 7.00

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.30 Inside Windsor Castle. (PG) Alook at at the history of Windsor Castle

8.25 TheCotswoldsWith PamAyres: Bradford-On-Avon. (R) Part 2of4 PamAyres’sjourney starts in Wiltshire and thetown of Bradford-on-Avon.

9.15 TheWorld’sMostBeautiful Landscapes: TheAmazon (PG, R) English actor Robert Lindsay narrates ajourney through the landscape of the Amazon.

10.10 So Long,Marianne. (Mals)

11.05 Paris Paris. (PGas,R)

12.05 Hope (Mv,R)

2.10 Significant Other.(Mal, R) 3.30

Paddington Station 24/7.(PGal, R) 4.20 Peer To Peer.(R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6am WorldWatch.

10.00 TheMovie Show 12.05pm Scrubs. 2.15 Indian Space Dreams. 3.15 Jungletown. 4.05 WorldWatch. 6.05 The Future With Hannah Fry. 6.35 The Secret Genius Of Modern Life. 7.35 Impossible Engineering. 8.30 GreatAustralian Concerts: Finn/Kelly 9.35 Great Australian Concerts: Icehouse. 10.40 Fighter Pilot: The Real TopGun 11.35 Late Programs.

6am Five

Flights Up.Continued.(2014,PG) 6.20 Bride And Prejudice. (2004, PG) 8.25 Wide Open Sky.(2015) 10.00 TheLawnmower Man. (1992, M) 12.35pm Anonymous. (2011, M) 3.00 Dancing Ninja. (2010, PG) 4.50 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998,PG) 6.35 The Man Who Brought DownThe White House. (2017, PG) 8.30 End Of Watch. (2012, MA15+) 10.30 Body Double. (1984,MA15+) 12.35am Late Programs.

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 TheGreat Outdoors. (PG) Theteam meets the Giants of Mandurah and explores Tasmania’s remote Tarkine.

7.30 MOVIE: Independence Day (1996,Mv, R) The US president and his motley group of alliesbattletosaveEarth from an armada of attacking aliens. Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum.

10.25 MOVIE: The6th Day (2000,Mlv,R) In afuture world, ahelicopter pilot is forced to go on the run after he is cloned by an evil genetics tycoon. Arnold Schwarzenegger,Michael Rapaport 12.55 Taken. (Mav,R)Bryan Mills fightsfor his life

2.00 Home Shopping (R) 4.00 Larr yThe Wonder Pup. (R) Follows aterrier called Larry. 5.00 My GreekOdyssey (PG, R)

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 MOVIE: No Time To Die. (2021, Malv) Bond is recruited by an old friend from the CIA to rescue akidnapped scientist. Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, LéaSeydoux.

10.45 MOVIE: No Escape. (2015,MA15+alv,R)A family is caught in acoup.Owen Wilson, Lake Bell.

12.35 Australia’s TopTen Of Ever ything. (PG, R) Acountdown of the top 10 movie legends.

1.30 TheGarden Gurus. (R) BonnieMarie Hibbstransformsa garden.

2.00 TheIncredibleJourney Presents. (PGa) Religious program.

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop (R)

5.00 TV Shop:Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

9GEM (92, 81)

6.30 TheDog House. (PG, R) Dogs arematched with companions.

7.30 TheDog House Australia. (PGa, R) Follows the staff at the Animal Welfare League as they try to find the right fit for Keirathe kelpie.

8.30 Shark Tank. (PGa, R)Apanel, including Maxine Horne, Nick Bell, Davie Fogarty, Jane Luand Robert Herjavec, is pitchedinventions.

9.30 TheCheap Seats. (Mal, R)From major newsstoriestoentertainment and viral videos, presenters Melanie Bracewelland Tim McDonald take alook at the week that was.

10.30 Ambulance Australia. (Mal,R) Aman is struck in thegroin by ajavelin 11.45 Ambulance UK. (Mal, R) Aman is found unresponsiveonthe roadside. 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 HourOfPower.

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 IEscaped To TheCountry. Noon Escape To The Country 1.00 Martin Clunes: Islands Of The Pacific 2.00 Escape To The Country 3.00 IEscaped To The Country 4.00 Escape To The Country 5.00 Horse Racing.Golden EagleDay and EagleFarm Raceday. 6.00 Dog Patrol. 6.30 The Highland Vet. 7.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 EscapeToThe Country. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 8.30 Tomorrow’sWorld. 9.00 TurningPoint. 9.30 TV Shop 10.00 Helping Hands. 10.30 Antiques Downunder 11.30 Edgar Wallace Mysteries. 1pm MOVIE: Beach Party. (1963) 3.00 RugbyLeague. Pacific Championships. Women’s.Week 3. 5.30 RugbyLeague. Pacific Championships. Week 3. New ZealandvTonga. 8.00 MOVIE: AFistful Of Dynamite. (1971, M) 11.10 Late Programs.

7TWO (72, 62) 6am Children’s Programs. 2pm MOVIE: Pokémon: Arceus AndThe Jewel Of Life.(2009) 4.00 MOVIE: Fletch Lives. (1989,PG) 6.00 My Way. 6.15 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw 6.30 TheNanny 7.30 MOVIE: Shazam! (2019, M) 10.15 MOVIE: Vampires Suck. (2010,M) Midnight The Originals. 2.00 TheNanny 3.00 Teen Titans Go! 3.30 Beyblade X. 4.00 Power Players. 4.30 Monkie Kid. 4.50 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Timbersports. 1.00 Blokesworld. 1.30

Sunday, November 3

ABCTV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 WeekendBreakfast. 9.00 Insiders 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 The World This Week.(R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Songs Of Praise. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 2.40 Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat. (R) 3.15 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 4.00 Restoration Australia. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.00 Grand DesignsAustralia. (PG,R) 7.00 ABCNews.

7.30 Spicks And Specks. (PG) Hosted by Adam Hills.

8.00 Fisk. (PG) Grandma quits the reception desk.

8.30 Plum (Ml)After ashiftatthe poetry club,Plum takes his family to Melbourne for ameeting about Gavin’s future

9.25 IWas Ac tually There:Nicky Winmar ’s Stand AgainstRacism. (Ml, R) AlookatNicky Winmar’s stand.

9.55 YouCan’t Ask That: Killed Someone. (Mal, R) 10.55 Miniseries: Marriage. (Ml, R) 11.55 Fires. (Final, Mal, R) 12.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.05 Australia Remastered. (R) 4.00 GardeningAustralia. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

11.10 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

3.00 Johnny Warren’s Football Mission 4.00 Nganampa Anwernekenhe. 4.30 Yarning Culture Through Film 4.35 Ray Charles At SallePleyel. 6.10 News. 6.25 Nature’s Great Migration. 7.30 First Australians.

6am MorningPrograms. 7.30 France 24 English News. 8.00 DD India News Hour 9.00 Growing AGreener World. (R) 10.00 FIFAWorld Cup Classic Matches. 11.30 Ageless Gardens.(R) 12.00 APAC Weekly 12.30 PBS Washington Week With TheAtlantic. 12.55 Plat Du Tour 1.00 Speedweek 3.00 Figure Skating. ISU FigureSkating.Grand Prix2 Highlights. 5.30 Clash Of Titans. (PG)

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.30 TheGunpowder Plot: Countdown To Treason. Part 1of2

9.20 Caral: Sacred City In The Andes. (PGa) ArchaeologistRuth Shady and her team explore Caral, the firstreal city in the Americas. 10.20 Wuthering Harlots: Pride And Prostitution. (MA15+as, R) Explores18thcentury London’s salacious side. 11.15 American Presidency With Bill Cli nton: Separate ButUnequal (PG, R) Hosted by Bill Clinton. 4.15 Peer To Peer (R) 4.45 DestinationFlavour China Bitesize (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 Al JazeeraNews.

6.00 NBCToday 7.00 WeekendSunrise 10.00 The MorningShow: Weekend.(PG) 12.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 1.00 Football. AFL Women’s.Week 10.StKilda v Brisbane Lions. 3.00 Football. AFL Women’s Week 10.RichmondvHawthorn. From Swinburne Centre,Melbourne. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line.(PG,R)

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 7NEWS Spotlight. An exclusivespecial investigation

8.00 Ego: TheMichael Gudinski

Stor y. (Madl, R) The story of entrepreneur Michael Gudinski who revolutionised the Australian music industry

10.25 Crime Investigation Australia: MostInfamous: Night Of Terror –TheBega Schoolgirls. (MA15+alv,R)

Alook at theBegaschoolgirl murders

11.50 AutopsyUSA:Dennis Hopper

Alook at the death of Dennis Hopper

12.50 TheStar ter Wife (Mas, R)

2.00 HomeShopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise 5am News. 5.30 Sunrise.

TEN (10, 5)

6.00 Hello SA.(PG,R) 6.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 7.00 WeekendToday 10.00 Wide World Of Sports. (PG) 11.00 CrossCourt. 11.30 Fishing Australia. (R) 12.00 DriveTV. 12.30 The Pet Rescuers. (PGam, R) 1.00 The Block. (PGl, R) 4.30 Helloworld (Return)

6.00 9News Sunday. 7.00 TheBlock. (PGl) Hosted by Scott Camand Shelley Craft.

8.45 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians.

9.45 9News Late

10.15 Trump: ASecond Chance? (PGlv) ExploresTrump’s 2024 presidential run 11.45 TheFirst48: Brothers Down. (Mav)A look at themurders of twobrothers.

SA Variety Bash. (PG) Entrants raise money for kids in need.

6.00 TheSundayProject. Alookatthe day’snews. 7.00 Dog HouseAustralia: All ShapesAnd Sizes. (PG) Revisits some of the people from the show. 8.00 TheGraham Nor ton Show. (Ml) Celebrity guests include Zoë Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez, Miranda Hartand Ncuti Gatwa. 9.10 FBI. (Mv)The team investigateswhen acouple are murdered and all evidence points to their home’s previous

(2005,PG) 5.45 MOVIE: Dr Seuss’ TheLorax. (2012) 7.30 MOVIE: Godzilla: King Of The Monsters. (2019,M) 10.05 MOVIE: Three Chords AndThe Truth. (2022, M) 11.45

Monday, November4

ABCTV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Landline.(R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Australia Remastered:Forces Of Nature. (R) 2.00 ParliamentQuestion Time. 3.00 ABiteToEat With Alice. (R) 3.30 Long Lost Family.(PG,R) 4.15 Grand Designs Revisited. (Final, PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am MorningPrograms. 12.10 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News Weekend. 1.30 Al JazeeraNews Hour 2.00 Walkatjurra: Our Actions Will NeverStop 3.20 PrimitiveMedium. 3.30 Plat Du Tour 3.40 The Cook Up.(R) 4.10 Walking Wartime England. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise 9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG) 11.30 SevenMorning News. 12.00 MOVIE: Malicious

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Into South America With Nick Knowles. (PG) Part 1of3

8.30 8Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. (Mals) Gameshow featuring contestantstacklinga words and numbers quiz. Hosted by Jimmy Carr

9.15 Media Watch (PG) Presented by Paul Barry.

9.35 Q+A. Presented by Patricia Karvelas.

10.35 BoyerLec ture 2024:Professor Anna Goldsworthy (R) 11.05 ABC LateNews.

11.20 TheBusiness. (R) 11.40 America, Are YouOk? (R) 12.05 PlanetAmerica. (R)

12.40 Louis Theroux Interviews... (Malv,R) 1.25 Grand Designs Revisited. (Final, PG, R) 2.10 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 3.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 Catalyst. (R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep 7.35 LittleLunch. 7.50 Operation Ouch! 8.20 BTN Newsbreak. 8.25 MatildaAnd TheRamsayBunch 9.00 Teenage Boss: Next Level 9.25 Poh’sKitchen 9.55 Doctor Who. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

9.25 NeverMind TheBuzzcocks. Music-based pop culture quiz show featuring panellists Nile Rodgers Russell Howard and Mae Muller. 10.05 Have IGot News ForYou U.S. (Mals) Hosted by Roy Wood Jr 11.00 SBS WorldNews Late. 11.25 ACriminal Affair (MA15+s) 1.05 Pray ForBlood. (Mal, R) 2.45 Paddington Station 24/7.(PGal, R) 3.35 Earth’s Natural Wonders. (MA15+aw, R) 4.35 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK WorldEnglish News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Home And Away Justin throws aspanner in the works

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) Thecompetition returns to Brisbane for the third Ultimate Instant Restaurant. 9.10 Twisted Twins? Part 1of2.Explores thestories of identical twins involved in criminal casesofmurder or missing persons.

10.10 S.W. A.T. (Mav)Anarmoured truck heist ends in bloodshed

11.10 TheLatest: SevenNews. 11.40 Lopez Vs.Lopez. (PGals) When Mayan’s ex-godfatherreturns to town. 12.40 Miniseries: Deadline Gallipoli. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBCToday 5.00 Sunrise 5am News. 5.30 Sunrise

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrentAffair 7.30 TheBlock (PGl) Hosted by ScottCam and ShelleyCraft 9.00 AmericaDecides. Takesa look at the upcoming 2024 US election between Donald Trumpand Kamala Harris. 10.00 Race To TheMelbourne Cup Carnival. Apreview

Children’s Programs.

Gossip Girl. 2.00 La Brea. 3.00 The Golden Girls. 3.30 TheNanny 4.30 TheAddamsFamily 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 IDream Of Jeannie. 6.00 The Golden Girls. 6.30 TheNanny 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 LoveIslandAustralia 9.40 MOVIE: The Wedding Singer.(1998,M) 11.40 Seinfeld. 12.35am

Tuesday, November 5

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Teenage Boss: Next Level. (R) 10.30 The Pacific. (R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Miriam Margolyes Impossibly Australian. (Mls, R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 3.00 ABite To Eat WithAlice. (R) 3.30 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 4.15 Grand Designs New Zealand. (R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6am MorningPrograms. 11.00 Her Majesty’s Cavalry.(PG,R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 HaveI Got News ForYou U.S. (Mals, R) 2.50 Such WasLife. (R) 3.00 The Weekly Football Wrap.(R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour 3.40 The Cook Up.(R) 4.10 Walking Wartime England. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy!(R) 5.30 Letters AndNumbers. (R)

6.00 Sunrise. News, sportand weather 9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG) Thelatest news andviews. 11.30 SevenMorning News. 12.00 Horse Racing. BigDanceon Cup Dayand EagleFarmRaceday 5.00 TheChase Australia. Contestants race to answer quiz questions correctly to avoid being caught by The Chaser

6.00 SevenNews.

12.05 Q+A. (R) 1.10 Media Watch. (PG, R) 1.25 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 2.15 Rage.(MA15+adhlnsv) 2.55 Cancer: AStory Of Hope –A CatalystSpecial. (PG, R) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 News Breakfast:USA Votes.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R) 6.30 SBS WorldNews 7.30 GreatCoastal Railway Journeys: TheIsle Of Anglesey. 8.30 TheZelensky Stor y. Part 1of3 9.30 Greatest Train Journeys From Above:GlacierExpress. (R) Follows the Glacier Express 10.25 SBS WorldNewsLate. 10.55 Babylon Berlin (MA15+asv) 12.50 Don’t LeaveMe. (Malv,R) 2.45 Paddington Station 24/7.(PGa, R) 4.25 Peer To Peer.(R) 4.55 DestinationFlavourChina Bitesize. (PGaw,R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight

7.00 Home And Away Abigail teeters on the edge. 7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl)NoRisk,No Reward is the name of thegame for friends Mikeand Pete’s Ultimate Instant Restaurant. 9.10 Aler t: Missing Persons Unit Mikeistaken back to his first unsolved case when the remains of aman surface sevenyears after his murder 11.10 TheLatest: SevenNews. 11.40 Air Crash Investigations: IcyDescent. (PG,R)

Your Money& Your Life. (PG,R)

Travel Oz. (PG,R)

Home Shopping. (R)

Sunrise5am News.

6.00 Today. The latest in news and current affairs. 10.00 Horse Racing. Melbourne Cup Carnival. Melbourne Cup Day 5.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG, R) Three contestants go head-to-head

6.00 9News 7.00 ACurrent Affair. 7.30 TheBlock. (PGl) Hosted by Scott Cam and ShelleyCraft 8.40 Trump On Trial: Prosecuting A President. (MA15+l) Alook at “The State of Georgia vs Donald J. Trump”, the biggest criminal case against theformerpresident.

TEN (10, 5)

Picture perfectpicnic, play for Children’s Week

By KATRINA BRANDON

MORE than 150 people celebrated Children’s Week withaTeddy BearPicnic,enjoying the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the shade in Newman Park, Traralgon

The picnic was brought on by PlaygroupVictoria, which is working towards further unity between Latrobe Valley playgroups.

Playgroup Victoria FLAG Officer, Shascha Reese-Sharam said: “The event came about from us looking at all of the playgroups in the area, and we were like, 'we need something that brings playgroups together and showcases all the amazing workthese volunteers and employees put into making their playgroupsabsolutely amazing week-by-week'.”

“We decided for Children's Week to make ahuge TeddyBear Picnic. This is it, with over 150 people in attendance. It has been afantastic turnout.”

Ms Reese-Sharam said the group aimed for 50 to 80 peopletoattend, and were excitedtosee attendance well exceed that number.

Ms Reese-Sharam added it was encouraging to see that everyone was keen to get involved on the day, and they had had over eight organisations come together to celebrate Family and Children's Week (October 19-27).

The group is already considering making it a yearly event.

“Duetothe enthusiasm the community has shown today,wedefinitely will be back to do it all over again," Ms Reese-Sharam said.

"We would love for people to be involved, so keep an eye out on our socials when it comes close to Children’s Week.”

Sharing: Traralgon’s Leni (3)and Lola(4) had fun at Playgroup’sChildren’s Week event in their hometown. Photographs: Katrina Brandon

St Michael’sstudents learn via interaction at Scienceworks

ST MICHAEL'S Primary School Grade 1/2 students took to Scienceworksfor an excursion. Students had the opportunity to consolidate their learning and explore the fun exhibitions on display.

Someofthe studentsshared that theirfavourite activitieswerethe airplayground, thesound room, and the Cathy Freeman running race.

Turning Red for dyslexia

The day wasfull of laughterand making meaningful learning connections to what students have been learning in class.

Many students expressed their gratitude for the fun filled day, also emulating the values being explored within the whole school program 'The Resilience Project'.

Students attended an exciting and interactive presentation about toys and forces, discussing how different toys, new and old, require pushing, pulling and forces of gravity to be used.

ST Paul’s AnglicanGrammar School students bandedtogether wearing splashesofred to demonstrate inclusivity during the Red for Dyslexia Awareness Day. Throughout the dayofcreativity, engagement and critical thinking, students from the Traralgonjunior school all had the chance to participate in apaper plane competitionthat encouraged connection and inclusive participation.

With the only guidelines being that thereisno limit to the creativity of the project, there was no student or staffmember left behindaseveryone was given the chance to soar.

Theday was filled with information about dyslexia, providing educatorsagreat opportunity to inform students on different waysthey can support their peers who have dyslexia.

MONDAY28OCTOBER

Ava Carpenter turns 5

Cillian Tolsma turns 4

TUESDAY29OCTOBER

FRIDAY1NOVEMBER

Jude Morsink turns 12

Dominic Hales turns 9

SATURDAY2NOVEMBER

Brody Seymour turns 10

Phoenix Geisler turns 12

Emmersyn Dewsbury turns 6

THURSDAY31OCTOBER

Bronson Conol turns 9

Declan Harding turns 12

Adalyn Kitwood turns 6

Family: Traralgon mother

Danielle with Layla (3) and Lenny (1) enjoying aday out at Newman Park during aPlaygroup Victoria event

Fun: Playdough wasafavouritefor Traralgon’s Leni (3) duringChildren’s Week

Creative: Amelia (2) from Churchill at the picnic.

Hands-on: Kit, Elise,Har per and Sebastien exploring theflowofair by building their own‘air tube tunnels’. Photographs supplied

Duo: St Paul’s students Amara andKhanh. Photograph supplied

Donations of Christmas gifts sought

CHRISTMAS is coming early to Gippsland, with Giving Trees for ABetter Life for Foster Kids popping up in local offices and stores.

GivingTrees are adrop off point for donations of Christmas gifts for children in out-of-home care who might otherwise not receive agift this year.

Memberfor Gippsland South,DannyO’Brien said thatwhile there may be two months until Christmas Day the preparation and organisation required by volunteers to ensure every child is able to open agift on the big day means the earlier the donations are received the better.

“It takesatremendous effort from Heather Baird and her team at ABetter Life for Foster Kids to collate and wrap the donationsand sendthem right around the state,” Mr O’Brien said.

“While many gifts will be delivered in person, alot will need to be posted, so it is important we start collecting early to ensure the donations are able to get to where they are needed.”

Donations of unwrapped gifts for children of all ages are warmly welcomed.

“Please be mindful that the charity is not accepting donations of books, food items or any toys resembling weapons," Mr O'Brien said.

“Some great gift ideas include board games, imaginative play items, beach towels, toiletry packs or gifts cards."

Mr O’Brien said donations are being accepted at his office located at 54B Cunninghame Sale, Sale. Alternatively, gifts may be posted directly to A Better Life for Foster Kids at PO Box 1138, Sale VIC 3850.

Giftofgiving: ABetterLifefor Foster Kids

Founder, Heather Bairdand Member for Gippsland, South DannyO’Brien during a recent handoverofdonated Christmas gifts

Photograph supplied

Ex-policewoman celebrated for service

RECENTLY, Aileen Boothman (neeBurns) was presented with her Victoria Police Record of Conduct and Service,byActing Inspector David Fyfe, at Respect Mitchell House in Morwell.

Aileen wasthe thirdfemale police officer to be stationed at the MorwellPolice Station in 1959, after serving for two years in Melbourne.

Aileen fondly recalled how she worked to support many women and families in the local area, and remembers aladyshe oftensupported saying,“she was very much misunderstood”. Aileenalways showed great compassion and care for others.

Act. Insp. Fyfe shared with Aileen that their roles were very similar, and the work to support children and families continues.

Comments by the supervisinginspector stated she was cooperative, industrious and diligent, andher conductwas exemplary. Shewas also commended forher initiative anddevotion to duty.

Aileen’sfamily and friends werepresent at the time, with amorning tea held to celebrate afterwards.

On the job: Aileen Boothman in uniform in 1957

Photograph supplied

Stratford gears up for next Shakespeare Festival

MAY the fourth be faire day!

Next year, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Medieval Faire and Market Day will fall on Sunday, May 4.

Organisers are leaning into this auspicious date and celebrating the dark side of Shakespeare with afaire day full of costumes, cosplay, crafting and culinary delights. Every year the town is transformed into a traditional village faire day, with arts and crafts, food stalls, fresh produce, the Pop Up Shakesbeer Bar and two live music stages. Entry is free to the public. The festival committee is currently looking for

stall holders to join in this opportunity for local businesses and individualstohave theirproducts displayedand get involved in an excellent community festival. If you are an artist, food vendor or entertainer and would liketoknowmore, phonefaireday coordinator, Aynslie Watson on 0405 633 456, or email: shakespearefaireday@gmail.com

Ye olde: TheGippsland town of Stratfordholds an annual Shakespearefestival, in homage to thebirthplace of the famous playwright. Photograph: Lisa Hayman

LEAVING alegacy of love and care behind him,local pharmacist Vinh Nguyen has retired after 28 years of dedicated service to the Morwell community.

Reflecting on decades of service, Mr Nguyen of Montagues Pharmacy said the community is what brought the most joy in his career.

Beingabletooffer professional healthcare advice as well as supporting locals during COVID-19 and beyond is somethingheis most proud of.

Feeling very grateful and fulfilledas apharmacist to have servedinsuch an accepting community, Mr Nguyen wished to say thank you.

"Thank you to all that have shared the journey and have become friends along the way," he said.

"However, it is time to pass on the white coat and welcome local, Akash Amin as the new face of Montagues Pharmacy."

Serving12years as alocum pharmacist in Gippsland as well as working in Latrobe Regional Hospital Pharmacy and Latrobe Community HealthServices, Akash is no stranger in the local community. He is looking forward to maintaining the trust of thecommunity as he startshis journey as the new owner-pharmacist at Montagues Pharmacy, Morwell.

Newchapter: AkashAmin has replaced Vinh Nguyen as owner-pharmacist of MontaguesPharmacy, Morwell. Mr Nguyen has retired afterclose to 30 years in the business. Photograph supplied

History: Morwell Police Station officers1957

Generations: LegendaryMorwellpolicewoman

Aileen Boothman speaks to Acting Inspector David Fyfe.

Morwell Fire Brigade Open Day

MORWELL Fire Brigade will hold its open day on Saturday, November 9.

The brigade has just purchaseda new Forward Control Vehicle which was purchased with the help of the community.

The brigade would lovetosee peopleinattendance to offer their thanks.

Morwell Fire Brigade is located at 26 McDonald Street, Morwell.

Barefoot bowls

MOE Bowling Club is aiming to create atrue community asset.

The club, located on the corner of Waterloo Road, next doortothe Moe Racing Club, is encouraging those interested to get involved in barefoot bowls, starting Friday, November 15.

Barefoot bowls offersa social, no-pressure environment for people to enjoy agameafter work or during the weekend.

Games will commence from 5.30pm, with all equipment supplied.

To find outmore, visit the club’s Facebookpage.

Moe Social Dance

MOE Social DanceClubisgearingupfor Melbourne Cup Day celebrations.

Thegroup is planning afun night on Monday, November 4, with fascinators and top hats the theme to celebrate this once-a-year event. Or come in your favourite cup attire.

There will be lots of fun prizes on the night.

All welcome.

Start 7.30pm. Cost is $8.

The club meets every Monday at 7.30pm and often teaches anew dance at 6.45pm.

Social tennis

SOCIALtennis is held everyMonday andFriday morning from 9am to 12pm at Ronald Reserve, Morwell East on Vary Street.

Cost is only $2 for modified tennis which doesn’t require alot of fitness at all.

This is afriendly, fun group who don’t mind laughing at themselves and each other when there is aswing and miss.

If you have never played, organisers can teach you.

Just come along or phone Naomi on 0405 739 819 to find out more.

Morwell Tennis Club is getting ready for the tennis season with Sectional Play and juniors.

Bridgeresults

TRARALGON Bridge Club results:

Monday, October 21: 1st Barbara Brabets and Anne Moloney (60.42 per cent); 2nd Moira Hecker and Robin Hecker (56.25).

Tuesday, October 22: 1st Moira Hecker and Geoff Dixon(63.19);2nd PhillipGoode and Barbara Barr (59.49).

Thursday, October 24: 1st Greg Nicholson and Kaye Douglas (56.94); 2nd Christine Zarb and Michael Zarb (56.25).

If you would like to play or learn more about bridge, phone Traralgon Bridge Club President, Greg Nicholson on 0419 365 739.

Traralgon Bridge Club will have astall at the Latrobe Fitness &Wellness Expo to be held at the Morwell Leisure Centre on Saturday, November 16.

Come along and find out what bridge is all about.

Churchill market

THE Churchill community will hostaChristmas Market at theshopping centre, as well as awhole town garage sale on Saturday, December 7.

The market will be held from 9am to 1pm at Churchill Shopping Centre. Book your stall online at: churchill.org.au/events

Community Corner with Liam Durkin

Market stalls willbeamix of crafts, home based businesses and fundraising by local community groups.

Garage sales commence at 9am. Registeryour Churchill Home Garage Sale on the Facebook page: Churchill Town Garage Sale.

Maps for the town garage sale will be available at the Christmas Market at stallsoutside the postoffice and at Churchill Milkbar in Blackwood Crescent, or justdrive aroundChurchill and spot the blue balloonswhich will indicate ‘Garage Sale’.

At the market, there will be free sausage sizzles, music, children’s entertainment and voucher giveaways. Retail stores will be open, including Churchill Lifeline Opportunity Shop. Lots of bargains, gift ideas and crafts.

Open mic

OUR Kinda Country Club willholdanopenmic afternoon on Sunday, November 3from 1pm at 100 Crinigan Road, Morwell.

All ages and all abilities are most welcome.

Our Kinda Country Club is anot-for-profit organisation that raises money for the Leukaemia Foundation and Royal Children’s Hospital.

Open mics are held on thethird Friday of each month at 7.30pm and the first Sunday of each month at 1pm. Music for fun and friendship.

For more information, phone Dawn O’Connell on 0412 161 419.

Shakeand bake

YINNAR Hall Volunteer Committee are sending out an invitation to the Yinnar &District Community to get togetheratthe Make It, Bake It, Sew It, Grow It Market at the Yinnar& District MemorialHall (14Main Street, Yinnar) on Sunday, November 3from9am to 1pm.

This is an indoor/outdoor market with 50 stall holders displaying their goodies.

The local Gippsland Historical Automobile Club will have some vintage vehicles on display. Afood van, coffee van, donut van, fairy floss and popcorn, poffetjes, fruit/vegies, cakes, pastries, gourmet condiments, honey, and a sausage sizzle will all feature.

There will be freefacepainting for the children and Latrobe Community Concert Band donating their time to entertain.

As Christmas willsoon be upon us, stallholders willcertainly have your gift list sorted: jewellery, toys, handmade bags, mosaics, cards,oils and candles, plasterkits, children’s cloths, baby bibs, blankets, sunshine catchers, cushions, plants and hair accessories will all be available.

Agold coin donation would be appreciated on entrytothe hall, but is certainlynot compulsory.

Dogs are welcome to visit the outdoor area only and must be kept on aleash.

TRAMPS ride

TRARALGON and Morwell Pedallers Inc (TRAMPS)met at the Big 4Caravan Park Dandenong, buthad to cancel the Friday, October 18 ride due to bad weather.

On the following Saturday, the ride was mostly along tracks beside lakes and rivers, with abrief stop at John Byron Reserve, to Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick.

The park has lots of interesting wildlife includingbirds and turtles in the lake. The little kiosk, called Gather, was abletoprovide hotdrinksand lunch. The groupwas thankfulfor the politeness and curtesy of workers along the tracks and motorists in the streets.

One car reversed out of the way to give TRAMPS aclear crossing.

Riders needed to rethink some of the route as afew bridge underpasses were flooded due the recent heavy rain.

That evening the group enjoyed agreat meal at the Dandenong RSL.

On the Sunday, upon arriving at Jells Park, WheelersHill, riders found the kioskwas not operating properly due to apower outage,so continued to Chesterfield Farm for lunch.

The return ride was though bushland with several different birds. In one place there were about 200 ibises.

Next ride is this Sunday (November 3), starting at at Dumbalk Town Hall carpark at 9am.

The group will travel on the rail trailsfor lunch at Fish Creek.

TRAMPS welcomes new riders.

For moreinformation, visit: www.tramps.org. au, or call club contacts Paul on 0459 823 422, or Vance (0403 662 288).

Chess results

IAN Hamilton held an edge over the field at Latrobe Valley Chess Club’s meeting, although the battle against Cliff Thornton was needed to determine the winner of the round.

DeearneMortel focussed on advancing her knowledge of chess theory.

Punishing blunders helped Steve Ahern complete two wins, but he was also on the receiving end in two other battles.

Peter Bakker was not too satisfied with the result in two key clashes, but recovered in three other clashes to finish with three wins.

Samantha Juersfound all gamesenjoyable, including the introduction to the chess clock.

Jarrod Dyke participated in the recent country tournament in Bendigo and benefits were clear at the local meeting

Jack Holme reaped the rewards from recent study, winning two games and forcing the opponent to work hard in other battles.

Phone Cliff Thornton on 0413 330 458, or Ian Hamilton (0400 221649)for more detailson local chess.

Stoma support

CALLINGall Ostomatesand their support peoplewho arelooking for asocial gathering with kindred spirits.

On Wednesday, November 6, the ‘Coffee Bags’ Stoma Support Group will be meeting at Moe Hotel (Leggies), Saloon Bar Room, Lloyd Street, Moe from 12.30pmand going forward, every first Wednesday of the month.

This group is acasualsupport groupand Ostomates are encouraged to come andhave acuppa,a meal and achat. This group is very social and enjoy the information sharing what happens.

Just turn up or register your interestinattending with Sue Graham on 0415 751 145.

Spiritual centre

LATROBE Valley Spiritual Centre (2 Avondale Road, Morwell).

Come along every Sunday for service, starting at 2pm and going to around 3.30pm. Doors open at 1.30pm.

Guest speakerevery week with demonstrations from an invited medium, followed by acuppa and afternoon tea.

For enquiries, phone Amanda Webb on 0411 051 044.

Time to Tango

NEVER danced before?

No problem.

If you can walk, you can Tango.

Join Gippsland TangoonWednesdaynights from7pm to 8.30pm at St David’s Uniting Church Hall (9 Campbell Street, Yarragon). Professional Tango instructors, choreographer and dancer Fabio Robles and Michelle Di Monte will show you the ropes.

No partner necessary.

Come along any time, or call Naomi on 0405 739 819 to find out more.

Neighbourhood house

TRARALGON Neighbourhood Learning House annual meeting will be held Monday,November 18 2024 at 6pm, followed by refreshmentsat 11-13 Breed Street.

Nominations for committee members are open. Phone51746199, or email enquiries@tnlh. org.au to RSVP.

Open gardens

COME and visit two very different gardens on the weekend of November 9-10.

Gardeners are in for atreat!

Open GardensVictoriaisshowcasing Into The Blue at 60 Wakanene Drive, Jeeralang Junction and 35 Madison Place, Hazelwood North. Both are close to Churchill. Go online at: opengardensvictoria.org.au and look up what’s on for more photos of these beautiful gardens. ‘Into The Blue’ was transformed from abush block to an eclectic garden in agully.Massplanting and attention to detail make this garden worth avisit.

MadisonPlaceisa five acre resort stylegarden with sweeping views over alakeand groves of silver birch, oaks as well as native trees. Both gardens have quirky but very different styles of statues.

Visit between 10am and 4.30pm.

Bookthrough TryBooking at: opengardensvictoria.org.au or pay cash on the day.

Adults $10, students with ID $6, and under 18s free.

Shopping tour

ST GABRIEL’S Primary School, Traralgon Parents and Friends Committee are holding a walking shopping tour next month.

The tour aims to support local businesses. St Gabriel’s has found support from St Michael’s Patents and FriendsCommittee,and Friends of St Paul’s, while 31 stores are on board. Tickets cost $20, which includes an exclusive wristband to access storediscounts,araffleticket and drinks and nibbles at Grow Master from 5pm to 6pm.

The tour willbeheld Friday, November 15 from 5pm to 9pm.

Get in touch with St Gabriel’son0351745515, or 03 5175 8500 to find out more.

Countrymusic

GOOD oldcountry musicfeaturing Ronn Munn, Tony Wirth and friends.

Walk ups welcomed.

First Sunday of every month, 11am to 4pm at Monomeath SeniorCitizens Hall, Victory Park, corner of Whittakers Road, Traralgon.

For all enquiries, phone 0409 149 309. Fun day of country music.

Artshow

LEONGATHAArt andPhotographyShow, hosted by the Rotary Club of Leongatha, is now taking submission for the 2025 show.

Submissions are open until 6pm on Friday, December 6, 2024.

For submission guidelines, online entry, or a printable entry form along with more information, email:rotaryleongatha.artshow@gmail.com

Youcan be apartof Community Corner

IF youare acommunity group and have any newsitems you need publicised, feel free to email us at news@lvexpress.com.au

You can address the correspondence to Editor, Liam Durkin.

Please write ‘Community Corner’ in the subject line and nothing else.

Deadline is Friday 9am to appear in the following Wednesday issue.

Ride on: TRAMPS take awell-earned break during arecent trek.

Popular: MoeSocial DanceClub nights area great waytomeet peopleand stay active Photographs supplied

Business Guide

SMARTChoice Electrical has more than 40 yearsofexperience operating in the Latrobe Valleyand surrounding areas

The team have awealth of knowledge in the electrical industry which ensures peace of mind when clients call SmartChoice Electrical forany job

SmartChoice Electrical business

owner PeterGriffithssaid the companywas proud of the high qualityworktheydo.

“Weare proud of our achievements in electrical safetyand quality, consistentlyproviding ahigh levelof workmanship,” Mr Griffiths said.

Peterand CarolGriffiths at Smart Choice Electrical guarantee their work and products arethe best possible

experiences including mains, metering,power,light and air conditioning

SmartChoice Electrical specialise in working with 240 volt and 415

Theyprovide customerswith the securityofknowing theyare dealing directlywith the approachable siness owners ing in the local area, the have seen that many sidents in the Latrobe Valleyare still onlyprotected electricallyby fuses -anissue that can be quickly fixedbythe installation of safety switches that should be considered by all households

If youare planning arenovation, SmartChoice Electrical can provide advice and customise their work to ensureyourneeds aremet To find out howSmartChoice Electrical can solve your domestic, ruraland commercial needs,phone Peteron0438 177153,orCarol on 5126 2110

Health sector still searchingfor answers

THE tragic death of another three young regional Victorians ('Deaths under review',Latrobe Valley Express,23/10/24) at LatrobeRegional Hospitalis yet another sad indictment of the state of the health system under the Labor government. Unfortunately this tragedy is not an isolated incident. Readers may recall thatseven avoidable deaths were also recorded at LRH back in April this year. In bothcases, internal committeeswere set up to investigate, and each cleared staff of negligence. So thequestion remains: why is this happening?

Oneconstant message coming out of LRH in the past year has been the difficulty in obtaining and retaining suitably qualified staff.

In the October 18, 2023 issue of the Express, it was reported that 200 new staff were required. In May this year areportmentioned that 50 nursing staff had been recruited from the UK, with another 45 "... in the pipeline from New Zealand". This means that less than half of the new nursing staffpositions required have been able to be filled. Their situation is not unique. In apreviousletter Imentionedthatthe country was facing ashortfall of 10,500 GPsdue to areduced studentintakes, and that 75,000 nurses had left the profession since 2020.

Earlier last week, Peta Credlin reported on SkyTV that asurvey of midwives had indicated that one-thirdofthem were considering leaving the professionand were of theopinionthat the sector was in crisis, with many personnel burnt out and working long hours.

In July this year, therewas aprotest by members of the VictorianAmbulanceUnion outsidethe office of one of our local MPs, who were seeking better work conditions to combat fatigue from longhours. So what can be done? It is clear that the present approach of poachingqualified personnelfrom other countries is ashort term, band aid solution. We should be filling these positions with nurses trainedinAustralia, to our standards and providing jobs for Australians.

Prior to the last election, PrimeMinister Anthony Albanese promised more 24/7 aged care nurses, yet nothing appears to have come of this promise.

Former Premier Dan Andrews drove many experienced nurses from the profession with his vaccinemandates and all of these are currently prevented from returning to the profession because these are still in force.

Disincentives to entering the medical profession need to be removed. In order to encourage better regional medical services, for instance, Pauline Hanson's One Nationparty has undertaken to introduce three-year contracts for newly qualified medical professionals to relocate to country areas andinreturn pay their HECS-HELP loans in full. Our populationisagingand,according to the Gippsland Primary Health Network, we are among the highest health care recipients in the state, so this problem is not going to go away.

Our hard working health professionals need our support, not criticism.

Greg Hansford Newborough

Northe won'teverbefree

ASENTENCE from the LVE story regarding the release of former Member for Morwell Russell Northeinlast week's issue read"TheExpress understands Northe is due to walk free this week" ('Northe settowalk from prison' 23/10/24). At the risk of repeating comments in thisarticle, Ibelieve Northe will never "walk free"ofhis history because every timehis name is in the paper, be it for winning the best garden competition in the local community, or even afishing competition, his criminal record will be repeated.

Thiswill be what the community remembers, rather than serving the community as aMember of Parliament for many years. He was re-elected anumberoftimes by his constituents.

He has served 12 monthsofhis 21 month sentence, indicating that theremainder of his sentence will be served in the community with reporting responsibilities to the Justice Department -sohe is not free yet.

In addition, Northe will have to live with the consequencesofhis actions on his personallife and how he feelsabout himselfhavingcommitted a crime that he knowingly knew was wrong -unlikely to never be free.

This man, and Ihave never met him, will be challenged in making anew life.

If it weren't for his past as apolitician his release was unlikely to have made the papers. There are many in the community who have 'servedtime' and can move forward without reminders of their past criminal behaviours.

Idonot condone his behaviour, but as aconsequence, Isay he "has done doing his time".

Isuggest that if his name appears in the paper as acontributing resident in the future, his past behaviour, be it positiveornegative, is not repeated in any news report unless directly related to the article.

Elizabeth Wright Moe

Awesome ag

AS aproud agriculturally rich electorate, it is no surprise to anyone that Gippsland South boasts some of the best agricultural shows on the calendar. Each agricultural showhas its ownuniqueevents alongside all the family favourites like dog high jump, pet parade, petting zoo and face painting.

With that in min d, Ia me nc our agi ng all Gippslanders to mark their calendars so they get out and enjoyall thatour localshows havetooffer over the coming months.

Sale Agricultural Show: November 1-3 (with Sunday being horse events only);

Yarram Agricultural Show: November 23; Korumburra Agricultural Show: February 8, 2025, and; Foster Agricultural Show: February 22, 2025.

Iwill have apresenceateach of these shows and look forward to catching up withlocalsto discuss theirstate government related priorities andconcerns

Danny O'Brien

Member forGippsland South

(NB:discussions regardingaLatrobe Valley-based agricultural show are underway. Stay tuned.)

Russian Roulette

ROUNDABOUT rulesand right of way. As I understand it, the first in the roundabout has to be givenright of way.There are some who need to learnthese rules.

Ihave been in the roundabout when the car on my left has raced in front of me. This is acommon occurrence in Traralgon.Havingrespect for my life and car, Iamalwaysonthe alert for these morons.

On another note, after reading the comment piece fromTracy Anton and her viewingofcouncil meetings ('HESC project not what it seems for region', LVE 23/10/24), Ihave to wonder of the calibre of our councillors.

Her comments made interesting reading especially about HESC.

Patricia Correa

Traralgon

Lambassador

DID you knowthat athirdworld country is stating that Australian fresh spring lamb is contaminated?

Ihave just returned from avisit to the Philippines to see my wife's family.

We took more than 20 kilos of fresh spring lamb as the family had never tasted our lamb that is second to none!

The customs officers confiscated the lamb, saying it was contaminated.

Imight send afew slices of lamb after Ilaceitwith insulin just to let them say it was contaminated.

Victor Breadon Morwell

Elementarymathematics

IF you ever needed moreevidence of the state government's financial incompetence, all you need to do is look at the SEC and its failure to produce what Daniel Andrews and Labor promised Victorians and the residents of Morwell.

In its first year of operations, the SEC has lost $30,000 and it has only one staff member stationed in Morwell.

Given the state's lack of commitment to serving the people,Iwonder if thisone staffmember is actually workingfromhomeorwhether they work from an office in Morwell.

What is clear is that the people of Morwell and Victoria have been lied to yet again and no doubt Labor will ignore their failings and continue to burden us withunnecessary debts thatLabor seem oblivious to.

How much longer must we put up with their lying?

We were promised development and riches in the Latrobe Valley courtesyofthe Commonwealth Games and we were promised jobs. Sadly none of these promises have been honoured and with any luck, the people have now wokenuptothe fact that apromise from Labor is, as Andrewssaid when tearing up the East West Link contract, not going to cost us acent.

Andrews wasquite right- it didn'tcost us a cent, it cost us one billion dollars, just like the CommonwealthGames cost us around $600 million.

The list growsdaily, and what did we get in return? Nothing but debt and no apology.

What puzzlesmeishow Labor claim to be financial gurus and yetburden us with the highest state debt of any other state.

Patrick Ansell Morwell

No nuclearreplicability

JOSEPH Lis’ ('Contradictoryclaim', LVE Opinion 16/10/24) makesthe same mistake as many before him, in assuming that nuclear costfigures in other jurisdictions can be replicated here.

Nearly all the USA’sfleet of 94 reactors have beenoperating for decadesand have paid back their investment risk capital.

Therefore, their marginal cost of energy production is very low. They currently providearound 20 per cent of USA energy demand.

He also misses the fact that the USA has investment tax credits of 30-50 per cent for nuclear projectsand agovernment loan and guarantee program worth more than US$330 billion, which markedlylowers the investmentcost(by 50 per cent) and thus the resulting energy costs.

The US Department of Energy 'Lift off' report also assumes that the USA can further cut back costs by an additional 40 per cent through knowledge, project-sharing and building 5-10 reactors at a time over along period.

The pricetopay afterharvesting cessation

COMMENT

BY MICHAELHARRINGTON

Editor’s warning: reader discretion advised. THE Andrews-Allan-D'Ambrosiogovernment claims to be champions of women’srights and environmental justice. Yet, in their reckless decisiontoshut down Victoria's sustainable native timber industry, they are directly contributing to adevastating andperverseoutcome -accelerating environmental destructionoverseas and driving vulnerable childreninto the arms of predators Victoria’s native timber industry, which harvested just four in every 10,000 trees from aminuscule four per cent of the public land estate, was one of the most tightly regulated and sustainable industries in the world.

Yet the stategovernment chose to kneecap it, turning itsbackonthe rural communities that depend on it, leaving Australia (and other nations thatutilisedour timber)toimporttimber from overseas, where there are few protections for forests or human rights.

The timber filling this gap left by the Andrews government's disastrous policy comes from places including the Solomon Islands, where logging is neither ethical or sustainable. The devastation is

plain to see. Coastal areas once green forest are now scarred withbarren, muddy log dumps.Reports warn that, at the current pace, all forest cover in the Solomon Islands could be wiped out by 2030. But the environmental destruction isn't the worst of it. When we outsource timber needs to countries like the Solomon Islands, the Victorian Labor government is enablinga systemrifewithchild exploitation and human trafficking.

As recently reported by the ABC,amedia outlet not typically on the side of Victorian timber communities -atthese unregulated logging camps, young girls, some as young as 12, are coerced into relationships with foreign loggers -men who use their economic powertotakeadvantage of vulnerable children. In theseso-called "log marriages", young girls are traded, often by their own families, in exchange for money, leaving them trapped in a life of sexual exploitation and domestic violence. And where is the Allan government, the selfproclaimed protector of women's rights? Nowhere to be found.

It is deeply hypocritical for agovernment that postures itself as achampionofequality, justice, and the protection of women’s rights to allow such heinous practices to flourishabroad. By ending

Thatiswherehis cost advantage for nuclear comes from.

It remains to be seenwhether the USA can achieve this 'lift off'.

For example, it requires them increasingtheir nuclear workforce from 100,000 today to 375,000 over 15-20 years.

Unfortunately for Australia, we haveneither the project scale, tax incentives or workforce to reliably build nuclear powerstations for the “overnight costs” cited in the report.

Note that the costs in the report are still USD $15,000 per megawatt of capacity or A$22 billion per AP1000 reactor.

No amount of wishful thinking will alter the fact that the cost of nuclear electricity that Australia can build will still be two to three times what the current wholesale electricity prices are.

John Gwyther Coongulla

Drastic parallels

DURING the Nuremberg trials, ayoung British journalist, Malcolm Muggeridge,issaidtohave prophesised that it was only amatter of time before the victoriousnations, whichwerethen trying the Nazi leaders on the charge of war crimes, would go on to commit something of equivalent evil themselves.

As we saw during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the western world descended into arguably the most evil and depraved depths in human history.

The wolf-in-sheep's-clothing disinformation and misinformation Billcurrentlybefore theAustralian parliament is asad continuation of that evil.

Joseph Lis Morwell

Putdementia on your agenda

WITH two in three people with dementia thought to be living in the community, yet two in three people admitting they know very little about dementia -community education is thekey to increased dementia awareness.

That’s why DementiaAustralia hasdeveloped afree, easy to use Community Education Toolkit designed to enable community groups and organisations to self-deliver informative and interactive sessions about brain health and dementia.

So please,I callonall communityand club leaders to put dementia on theiragenda -from social,sporting, recreational, retirement villages, educational, corporate, local government and faith-basedgroups to take the first step towards building awareness about dementia with their clients or members. For more information, visit: dementia.org.au/ community-education-toolkit or email innovation@ dementia.org.au

Call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 forfreeexpertadvice,supportisavailable 24/7. Professor Tanya Buchanan Dementia Australia CEO

Have your say

Victoria’s sustainable native timber industry, the Andrews-Allan-D'Ambrosio alliance has turned its back on its own people -bluecollar families in timber towns who are losing their jobs and livelihoods, while simultaneously supporting some of the worstenvironmental and human rights abuses abroad. The green policies they claim to champion at home are feeding destruction overseas and leading children into aliving nightmare.

This is not about protectingthe environment; it’s about moral grandstanding for Greens preferences at the expense of families, both here and abroad.

The truth is, Victorian timber workers lose their jobs, forests overseas are razed to the ground, and young girls are trafficked into abusiverelationships

If thisiswhat the Andrews government calls progress, it’s abitter price to pay.

The Andrews-Allan-D'Ambrosio government must answer: how can you champion women’s rights when your policies are pushing children into the hands of predators in foreign lands? And how do you justify the end of the Victorian native timber sector when these are the true costs?

About the author: Michael Harrington is anative forestry advocate and third generation firewood operator.

THE Latrobe Valley Express welcomes letters to the editor.

Preference will be giventobrief,concise letters which address local issues.

TheeditorLiam Durkin, reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space and clarity,and mayrefuse to publish any letter without explanation.

The Express does not publish letters from anonymous contributors.

Letters must include aphone number, email address and the author's hometown for purposes of substantiating authenticity.

Readers are entitled to aright of reply to aletter directed at them.

While healthy debate is encouraged, the editor will use his discretion if he believes lettersare becoming slagging matches between writers.

The views expressedinletters to the editor are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Latrobe Valley Express management or staff.

The letters section is designed to allow people to have their say, and not be hijacked for political agendas.

Letters regarding religion willnot be published.

Email letters to news@lvexpress.com. au and include'Letter to theEditor'in the subject line.

Deadline for letters is Thursday 3pm.

TRARALGON, 24A Albert St, Sat. 8-12pm. Tomatoes, capsicum, zucchini, sweet corn plants, $3.50 ea. Also fish aquarium liquid fertiliser &bric-a-brac. Plants avail. during weekdays also. All proceeds to Guide Dogs.

TRARALGON-EAST, x2 houses in one Street, 9 and 13 Ashleigh Place, Sat. 8pm -4pm, Sun. 9am -1pm. Bikes, camp gear, kitchen hutch, treadmill, food processor, coffee machine, tools, shed gear, scrapbooking, craft, plants and much more.

NEWSPRINT REEL ENDS

Price: $6 each or 2for $11 (GST incl).

Available at the Latrobe Valley Express Office 21 George Street Morwell

Enquiries: 5135 4444

Landscaping Mulch

Beautify your garden. Bulk quantity available, $30m3, $50 delivery. 0412 613 443 or 1800 468 733.

Place

Advertise

We

519 MORWELL gentleman, widower, n/s, would like to meet lady 60-70s for companionship and r'ship. Losing apartner is devastating but life must go on. I'm akind and caring person. Ilike to meet for coffee, eating out and day trips. I'm slim to med. build, reasonably fit. Reply to:

Notice to ADVERTISERS and RESPONDENTS

LSCT MASSAGE

7days 9am -9pm

Group

Gippsland

WHEN YOU GO LOCAL,YOU GROW LOCAL!

Voicemail introductions advertisements and voice messages may only be submitted by persons 18 years and older. When making contact with people for the first time, it is advisable to meet in apublic place and let amember of your family or atrusted friend know where you will be. We would advise readers and advertisers to exercise caution in giving out personal details. This will be respected by genuine respondents. WEIGHT LOSS

Help support our local Tradies while they service, build and repair in our local communities - check out our Business Guide Pages and Home Maintenance Section in the Classifieds every Wednesday for your local

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if

to pay the amount due to the Council within 4weeks from the date of publication, the Council may sell the land, or cause the land to be transferred to itself, pursuant to section 181 of the Local Government Act 1989 (Victoria).

Acopy of the section 181 of the Local Government Act 1989 (Vic.) can be downloaded from: https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_ act/lga1989182/s181.html LawyersAU Pty Ltd; Lawyers for the Council Contact details: Mailing Address: PO Box 7030,

BATHROOM

Remodelling. Call Bill at "Total Home Renovations" Phone 0409 565 497. IAN'S PROPERTY SERVICES

CONCRETING

Handyman. Phone Justin on 0409 479 737.

CUT it DOWN and CLEAN it UP Tree removal big or small, including climbing, topping, hedging, shrubs, bushes, and more. Residential commercial, real estate. Call Vic and team on 0434 114 139. ABN 795 99 743

Door Installer

Does your home need new doors? Ican supply/ install doors/locks incl. security doors. Over 32 yrs exp. Free quote. Get your doors hung right the 1st time by Lennie 0438 850 287.

ELECTRICIAN

ABN: 33646809284

● General Carpentry ● Painting ● Flat pack installation ● Tiling

● Landscaping and Decking

● And so much more Phone 0438 090 701

PRUNING SERVICE

All areas. Fruit trees, roses, hedges, camellias, natives and mop tops. Over 25 years experience. Phone 0478 658 025.

SILICON MAN

Grant's Caulking Services and Grouting. Domestic glazier, small repairs, leaky showers. 0428 356 957.

Specialising in all domestic work. REC.4188. Phone Peter 0438 177 153 or Carol 5126 2110. Vic Marino's Painting Residential, commercial, int./ext. No job too small. Free quotes. Qualified tradesman. 0408 086 776.

FENCING

All types of residential fences and gates. Free quote, call or text Doug 0409 433 110.

FENCING

Gates, retaining walls and back yard projects, storm clean up. 35 years exp. Ph 0407 336 237.

LOCAL business offering all concrete jobs, driveways, paving, brick layer, plaster, paint, fencing, decking, home renovations. Exp'd. Affordable. 0406 831 134.

Looking for a lifestyle change? Wanting to be your own boss?

Jim's Mowing is looking for aFranchisee in the Latrobe Valley area. CONTACT 131 546 For ano-obligation free Info Kit

RESTAURANT MANAGER

Experience essential. Attractive salary and conditions. Contact Magesh 0407 176 005 for full position description. Submit application via email: Info@ cafestellina.com.au

DELIVERERS WTD

Would you like to deliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoons in Morwell, Traralgon, Moe, Newborou gh and Churchill? Please apply to the Circulation Manager 0456 000 541. Please note: Children must be 11 years or over as we will need to apply for agovernment Child Emplo ym ent Pe rmit Children younger than 11 cannot or will not be accepted. Adult deliverers also welcome.

ADVERTISERS PLEASE NOTE:

Much hardship and difficulty is caused to job seekers by misleading advertising placed in the employment columns. Our Situations Vacant columns are reserved for advertisements which carry aspecific and genuine offer of employment. Ads for `Business Opportunities' and `Training Courses' and `Employment Services' should be submitted under those headings. Placing misleading ads is an offence against the Trades Practices Act and state/territory fair trading acts and all advertisements are subject to the publisher's approval. Forfurther advice, contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 302 502 or your state consumer affairs agency.

Would you liketodeliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesday and /orWednesday afternoons in Traralgon, Morwell and Moe. Please apply to: The CirculationManager 0456 000 541 Please note: Children must be 11 years or over as we will need to apply for agovernment Child Employment Permit. Children younger than 11

• Maternal ChildHealthNurseCasual Positions

EXPRESSION OF INTERESTCLEANING OF TRAFALGAR PRIMARY SCHOOL

Tender submissions are invited for the provision of cleaning services to Trafalgar Primary School, commencing February 2025.

Cleaners are required to attend asite inspection to be conducted at 4pm on 11th November 2024. Contract documents will be available at that time. Register attendance on 5633 1566.

Tender Closing date: 18th November 2024. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted

GIPPSLAND PORTS ENGAGEMENT OF EXTERNAL FINANCIAL AUDITOR

2024/25 -2026/27

Gippsland Ports was established in July 1996 and is responsible by agreement with Transport for Victoria to manage and administer five Local Ports and four waterways as part of its statutory functions on behalf of the State Government.

Gippsland Ports is acommittee of management established under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 governed by aBoard of Management.

Gippsland Ports is seeking an external auditor with agood understanding of the public sector and an excellent knowledge of audit methodologies and best practice tools and techniques that identify and provide solutions to financial, operational and statutory risks.

The purpose of the audit is to express an opinion to the Board on the financial statements. Audit procedures should be designed to gather appropriate evidence to form such an opinion.

The initial term of appointment will be for three years commencing 2024/25, with the option to extend for an additional two years, subject to satisfactory performance and mutual agreement.

We invite interested organisations to submit their Expressions of Interest, including adetailed pro posa lo ut lining the ir qual ificati ons, experience, and approach to the audit, by 4.00pm Friday, 15th November 2024.

The full brief can be accessed from the Tender section of Gippsland Ports' website http://www.gippslandports.vic.gov.au/tenders

MATURE agedman, fit, active, seeks farm position, dairy/beef/cropping. Wide experience incl. livestock, tractors/machinery, hay, sileage, cultivation, farm maintenance, honest and reliable. 0419 363 719.

CASH FOR CARS

KIA Stringer GT, 2021,

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MOTORING

LANDROVER

TD5, 2003, auto, 1OG-6IH, r.w.c., reg. to 6/12/24, 349,000k's, good condition $6000. Phone 0409 691 971.

CAMPERVAN

$15,000. 0409 185 719.

JAYCO Conquest FD20.1, Fiat Ducato, '13, 2.3L diesel, 65,000km, generator, d/batts, 3-way fridge, extra solar, large storage box (rear), reg. 2/25, 1UG-1YU $89,500. 0402 140 919.

JAYCO Journey Outback 2018, sgle axle, 16ft, tare 1931, double bed, ensuite, bike rack, full fridge, diesel heater $53,000. Ph 0417 089 428.

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Selling avan?

Don't waste time waiting for buyers, or on endless consignment plans, sell it today we'll pay cash now. Affordable Caravans 0418 336 238, 5623 4782.

AKERS, Colin James. The former Yallourn W Power Statio n, Plant Performance Team (PPT) would like to pass our condolences to Karen and extended family on the sudden loss of Colin. We wou ld also like to acknowledge that Col was avaluable member of this Team for over 15 years. He was akey contributor, supporting the ongoing technical services of the Team and Business and enriched the work environment for all who worked with him. We will all really miss Col's quality, humour and commitment at work. Deepest sympathies from Bruce, Sue, Spock, Wal, Jeff, Faithy, Shiney, Shane, Dave and many others.

DONALD (nee Sexton), Pauline Margaret. 30/6/1958 -21/10/2024.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved mother, Pauline, who passed away peacefully on 21 October 2024. Aged 66 years

Pauline was aloving mother to Jayde, Tanika and Mikayla, acherished "Nan Nan" to Tyler, Kody, Harlow, Indiana, Chloe and Mack, and treasured by all her friends and family.

Pauline will be remembered for her kindness, strength, and unwavering love for her family. She touched the lives of many with her generosity, warmth, humour and compassion.

Her memory will forever live in the hearts of those who knew her

SIDDLE, Keith Matthew. 1/3/1941 -27/10/2024. Passed away peacefully on Sunday, 27 October 2024.

Aged 83 years

DALLAS and RANDY MARTYN

Bestwishes to you both on your 60th Birthdays DALLAS 22nd September RANDY 28th October

Lots of love from Mum andyour sisters Dureene and Tarina and all your relations and friends

Joe and Grace TUMINO

ALWAY (nee Burt), Maureen Margaret 'Gerry'. Our darling mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great, great grandmother passed away peacefully at Dalkeith Gardens on Saturday 26 October. Aged 103 years and 7months

Loved and loving wife of Pete (dec.). Much loved and respected mother and mot her-i n-l aw of Jim (dec.) and Pam, Franklin and Teresa (dec.) and Linda (Lyn) and Steve. Cherished Nana of Tim and Tracey, Wayne and Terry, Christine, Kathleen and Peter, Jarryd, Josh and Liam and their partners. Cherished great Nana to 10 and great great Nana to four. Alway(s) in our Hearts

ANDERSON, Beryl Jean. Passed away peacefully at Margery Cole Aged Care on Wednesday, 4th September 2024. Aged 83 years Adored mother and grandmother and great grandmother. Will be sadly missed, now peacefully at rest Private Burial has taken place.

DONALD (nee Sexton), Pauline Margaret. 30/6/1958 -21/10/2024. Passed away suddenly. Mother of Jayde, Tanika and Mikayla. Nan Nan to 6grandchildren. Daughter of Don (dec.) and June. Sister of Leanne, Karyn, Donna and Danny. Sister-in-law to Gary, Kevin, Peter and family friend to Tian. If you have adaughter, Love her while you may, Iwish with all my heart, That mine was here to stay. Family memories, Mum

DUGGAN, Peter John. Passed away peacefully at home on 20 October 2024, surrounded by his family. Dearly loved husband of Leanne. Cherished father of Daniel, Melissa and Nathan. Father-in-law of Jess and Erin.

Adored Grandfather of Sophie, Xavier, Logan, Evie and Sienna (dec.). Forever in our hearts and thoughts

22/3/1967 -10/10/2024.

Father

little princess Nikea. Adored poppy of 14 grandchildren. Forever In Our Hearts

DUGGAN, Peter John. 20/10/2024. Passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family. Loving son of James (dec.) and Betty of Yinnar. Brother of Kerry and Trevor, Tracey and Peter, Paul and Cha, Kim and Matt. Uncle of 17 nieces and nephews. Pa to 5grandkids. You will forever be missed

HARVEY, Martin Roy 'Turtle'.

Passed away, after along battle with illness, at LRH surrounded by his family and friends on Friday 25 October 2024.

To our beautiful parents Congratulations on your 60th Diamond Anniversar y We aresoblessed to have such amazing and incredible parents With all ourlove George and Luisa, Luisa and Rod, Linda and Garry, Annita and all your grandchildren

BOOTHMAN (Burns), Aileen Mary. It is with regret that we inform you of the passing of Aileen Mary Boothman of Mowell after an illness on Wednesday 23 October 2024. Aged 91 years Aileen was abeloved and cherished wife of Neville, much loved mother of Danny, (Dana), Susan, (John), Wayne, (Leisel), grandmother and great grandmother who will be forever missed. You were such acaring and loving person who always thought of others before yourself. Our world is abetter place because of you. We all love and miss you, our hearts are broken. The family would like to ack nowl edge Mitche ll House staff for their exemplary loving care of Aileen.

Aged 66 years Loved and loving son of Roy (dec.) and Yvonne. Loving husband of Sheila. Loving father of Matthew, Sam and Madison. Awesome granddad of Alanna and Ella. Fatherin-law of Emma. Brother of Danielle and Simone. Brother-in-law of Peter, John and Heide. Loved and Remembered Always

AFuneral Service to celebrate the life of Mrs Maureen Margaret 'Gerry' Alway will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Highway, Traralgon, THURSDAY (31 October 2024) commencing at

CONNELL, Stephen Robert. Passed away suddenly 7/9/2024. Aged 53 years. Son of Julie and Rob. Brother of Greg and Donha (dec.). AMemorial send off to be held at Trafalgar Bowls Club, 7-13 Seven Mile Rd, Trafalgar at 11am FRIDAY (1 November 2024).

COUCH, Ian Graeme. Passed away peacefully at Traralgon Aged Care on 23 October 2024. Aged 80 years Dearly loved son of Jessie and Clyde Couch (both dec.). Fond brother of Lois Couch, and Joy and Fred Lancaster. Loving Uncle to Daryl, Linda, and family. Resting Peacefully

O'BRIEN (Bechaz) (nee Lardner), Margaret Anne. Passed away peacefully at Latrobe Regional Health surrounded by her three children, on Thursday 24 October 2024. Aged 78 years Loving wife of Geoff Bechaz (dec.). Friend and companion of Harry O'Brien. Loved and loving mother of Sonia, Angela and Andrew. Loved and respected mother-in-law of Stan and David. Fun-loving and special Nanna to Nathan, Dale, Jes, Zac, Emily and Jules. Big Nanna to Macy, Payton and Rhylee. We will always love and miss you

BOOTHMAN. Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul and Committal for Cremation of Mrs Aileen Mary Boothman at St Vincent's Catholic Church, cnr Hunt and Barry Streets, Morwell on WEDNESDAY (30 October 2024) at 11.30am. Aileen's Service will be livestreamed, to view the livestream visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

5134 4937 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

ALWAY.

TUCK, Paul.

Loving devoted partner to Monika for 28 years.

of Shane, Tyson, Dylan, Dale and his

Loved husband of Molly.

Loved father of Stephen, Vicki, Peter (dec.) and Brian (dec.).

Cherished Pop to Peter, Chris and Brad Smith and Peter and David Siddle.

Cherished Pa to his great gran dchild ren ,K eeley, Amily, Charlie, Zara, Remi and James.

all love you

PRITCHARD (nee Robertson), Jessie Winifred. Passed away peacefully at Margery Cole on Saturday 19 October 2024. Aged 88 years Beloved wife of John (dec.). Loved and respected mother and mother-in-law of Rebecca and Tom, and Emma and Geoff. Loved and caring Nan to William and Bailey. At Peace

COUCH. The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation for Mr Ian Graeme Couch will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Highway Traralgon, WEDNESDAY (30 October 2024) commencing at 10.30am.

HARVEY. APrayer Service for Thanksgiving to Celebrate the life of Martin Roy Harvey will be held at St Aidan's Anglican Church, 111 Torres St, Newborough, on FRIDAY (1 November 2024) commencing at 11am.

ALBANESE, Angelo. 14/5/1937 -23/10/2018. Beloved husband to Ines. Father to Lenny and John. Father-in-law to Sharon. Poppy to Tony, Mark, Damien and Josh. Deeply missed and forever loved

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

TRARALGON 5174 2258

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

DONALD. Aservice to celebrate Pauline's life will be held on FRIDAY (1 November 2024) at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services, 260 Princes Hwy, Traralgon at 2pm. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend. There will be aviewing prior to the ceremony from 1:40pm. The hardest goodbyes are the ones we don't get to say Pauline's service will be livestreamed. To view the livestream visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

DUGGAN.

The Funeral of Mr Peter Duggan will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy, Traralgon THURSDAY (31 October 2024) commencing at 1pm. At the conclusion of the Service the Funeral will leave for the Hazelwood Cemetery, Brodribb Road, Hazelwood. This service will be livestreamed. Please visit our web site for details www.latrobevalley funerals.com.au

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

Traralgon 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

O'BRIEN.

The Funeral of Mrs Margaret Anne O'Brien will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Avenue, Moe on WEDNESDAY (6 November 2024) commencing at 2pm. At the conclusion of the service the funeral will leave for the Moe Memorial Park Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Moe. Margaret's service will be livestreamed, to view the livestream visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

PRITCHARD. APrayer Service of Thanksgiving and Commendation to God's Care for Mrs Jessie Winifred Pritchard will be held at St James Anglican Church, Grey Street, Traralgon on THURSDAY (7 November 2024) commencing at 11am. Jessie's Service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream, please visit our website. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Jessie's name, to acharity of your own choice would be appreciated. It was Jessie's wish that people dress for comfort. Formal black attire is not expected.

LATROBE VALLEY FUNERAL SERVICES

Fun run in the sun

ATHLETICS

LOCALS tookpartinthe Geoff Watt Memorial Half Marathon at the weekend.

We bring35years experience to families in Traralgon, Morwell, Churchill, Moe, Trafalgar,

Sunday’s event saw the half marathon, as well as 10km and 5km runs in and around Warragul.

The event, named after legendary Gippslandmarathoner and put on annually by his daughter and ex-Olympian Kathy, is the longest running fun run event in the region.

The festival of running saw not only adult races, but also participants from Little Athletics honing their skills across anumber of disciplines.

Some local footballers featured in the men’s half marathon, notably Traralgon TyersUnited 400 gamer Chris Buckley.

‘Bucko’ has takenalikingto marathons as his football days have wound down.

He came fifth in the Geoff Watt run, clocking in at 1:34:49.

The course took runnersdown Tarwin Street, past Western Park and behind the golf club before a series of undulating stretches of road along Dollarburn Road.

Fellow TTU players Liam and Caleb Michie also ran, as did Michael Taplin.

Morwell footballer Judah Leak placedinthe top10, runninga 1:47:46.

Moe premiership playerMichael Parkeralsocompleted the half-mara.

The mediabattle between the Express’ ownLiam Durkin and Jack Morgan of WIN News went the way of the latter, who ran a1:44:11 opposed to Durkin’s inferior and near 10 minute later time of 1:53:32.

Hamilton preparing for national Oceania duty

BASKETBALL

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

Honour your

Memoriam

ones and share their

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

REPRESENTING Australia next monthatthe FIBA U15 Oceania Cup, Traralgon’s Will Hamilton is prepared to take the international stage by storm.

When you lose someone close to you, it can be hard to put your thoughts and feelings into words All notices placed in print also go in our digital edition A personal message in the Latrobe Valley Express can say so much For friendly advice on how to place a message contact The Classified Department 5135 4455

SIDDLE. The Funeral of Mr Keith Matthew Siddle will arrive at the Toongabbie Cemetery, Cemetery Road and Traralgon-Maffra Road on FRIDAY (1 November 2024) for aGraveside Service to commence at 2pm.

WARD.

AService to celebrate the life of Lachlan Ward will be held at the Lardner Park Events Centre, 155 Burnt Store Rd, Lardner (enter via gate 4) on WEDNESDAY (30 October 2024) at 2pm. The Service will also be live-streamed. To view Lachlan's Service visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au At the conclusion of the Service the cortege will leave for the Gulwarra Heights Memorial Park, 378 Burke St, Warragul In true Lach spirit you are welcome to wear atouch of green, your favourite flanny and work boots.

CALDWELL, Daniel James. 25/10/1984.

There is afamily who misses you dearly, In the home where you used to be, The life and the love you shared with us, Will live for eternity.

We think of you today on your special day. Lots of love always Mum, Gran, Alison and Karen.

ROMANO, Sebastiano. 26/10/1925 -17/4/1995. Sebastiano/Dad, Your birthday is here but it is sad to know that you are no longer here. We want to send you a gift, but we know we can't, So we will just make a wish upon astar, That you carry our love wherever you are. Your loving wife Sebastiana, your children and grandchildren.

TRESIDDER, Max. 31/10/1949 -23/2/2021. Iwill love and miss you always, my darling Eagles man. See you in Heaven one day. Rae XXX

Latrobe Valley Express, Wednesday, 30 October, 2024

Having played for Vic Country the last two years through the State Development Program, Hamilton was invited to the Crocs try-out in Canberra after competing at the Under 16s National Championships in Bendigo.

“I was pretty excited… Ididn’t have the nationals Ithought Iwould because Ihad afew injuries and then when Igot invited to it Iwas just stokedand from there Itrained really hard thenhopefully got picked, which Idid, so that was real good,” he said.

After threedays and multiplehotly contested training sessions, asquad of 21 boys was cut to 10, with Hamilton stillstanding,earning his spot as one of five Victorians selected.

The Traralgon basketball and GippslandUnitedgun has made waves in the social media space as adominant and skilful big man, but it startedfrom humble beginnings at his local association with his dad coaching his first team.

“I just liked playingwith my mates and Ithought Iwas alright at it so Ijust kept it going and then all the state stuff happened and now this,” he said.

Hailingfromquitethe sporting family,particularlywithfootball, Hamiltonchuckedthe bootsonfor the Maroons this seasonfor seven games including abest-on-ground performance in aGrand Final win.

Hamilton agreed that each sports bodes well for one another in the long run.

“I think because I’ve been doing a lot of basketball lately, Ididn’t play much footy this year, but Ireckon it

Full steam ahead: Traralgon’s Will Hamilton has been selected to playfor Australia in theFIBAU15 Oceania Cup in Canberra. Photograph supplied.

helped just the past few games I’ve played just (with)likequickness,a lot of jumping as well, similar movement which Ithink helps,” he said.

“(Basketball’s) what I’m leaning towards now but Iguess you never know what could happen,” he said when posed with choosing between the two sports.

“There’s afew footy players out there who had abasketball career and then went to footy.”

It has beenquitethe year for the Hamiltonfamily.His dad Troy led Traralgon to their firstseniorflag in almost 10 years this season, with his other sons Josh and Tom integral pieces in the Maroons runthroughout the year.

The FIBA U15 Oceania Cup takes place from November 11 to 16 at the Australian Institute of Sportin Canberra.

Respectful, dignified,

FuneralsMoe, Morwell andTraralgon Funeral Services at the Rose Chapel, Church and Graveside -a specialty

Galbraith

Pre preseason: Local footballersLiam Durkin (Moe), Liam Michie and Caleb Michie (both TTU) aftercompleting the half-marathon. Photograph supplied

Pro-am coming in hot Designated pickleball courts coming

PICKLEBALL

GOLF

THE Traralgon Golf Club Pro-Am is fast approaching.

This year’s event combines both the Traralgon Classic and Pro-Am, making for aPro-Am Classic.

Some of Victoria’s best PGA professionals willjoin amateur golfers next month for the club’s marquee event.

The public is invited to watch the action at TraralgonGolf Club on Thursday, November 7and Friday, November 8.

In an added bonus, aJunior Pro-Am will be held next Wednesday (November 6), featuring aprofessional hosting agroup of 10-14 year-olds around the first nine holes.

The Traralgon Pro-Am and Classic is steeped in history, with players the calibre of Greg Norman taking part.

ATHLETICS

GIPPSLAND

Round 4ofGippsland Athletics Club trackand field season washeld Tuesday 22nd October 2024.

RESULTS:

100M

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 14.60, Melian Archer 14.63; U/18–Janella Archer 14.22; Open –Brandy Forget 21.00

Men: U/18–LukeRollinson 11.60; Open –

Jack Doderico 11.19, Aaron Saltmarsh-Milne 11.87,Cameron Hughes 13.63; Masters –Brett Rolinson 14.06, StuartDalton 15.75, Simon VanBaalen 17.75.

JAVELIN

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 21.32, Melian Archer 10.19; U/16–Zaria Dalton 10.28; U/18–Janella Archer 23.17; Open –Brandy Forget 16.72; Masters–Fiona

Saltmarsh14.79

Men: Open –Cameron Hughes 34.58, Aaron Saltmarsh-Milne 27.89, Michael Tripodi 19.45; Masters–Simon VanBaalen 31.32, StuartDalton 20.63, Wayne Seear 20.09

3000M

Men: Open –Micheal Tripodi 11:41.73, Jordan Humphrey 14:16.73 LONG JUMP

Women: U/14–Melian Archer 3.90, Brooklyn Wyatt 3.41; U/18–Janella Archer 4.12

Men: U/18–LukeRollinson 5.65; Open –Aaron Saltmarsh-Milne 5.08, Micheal Tripodi 4.09, Cameron Hughes 3.54; Masters–BrettRolinson 3.97,Simon VanBaalen 3.00, Wayne Seear 2.31

DISCUS

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 20.20, Melian Archer 14.97; U/16–Zaria Dalton 13.88; U/18–Janella Archer 24.31; Open –Brandy Forget 23.16; Masters–Fiona Saltmarsh17.74

Men: Open –Simon VanBaalen 28.91, Aaron Saltmarsh-Milne 26.75, Cameron Hughes 25.32, Michael Tripodi 12.28; Masters–Simon VanBaalen 35.76, Stuart Dalton 25.54, Wayne Seear 22.57

400M

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 1:20.01, Melian Archer 1:28.09; U/18–Janella Archer 1:31.00

Men: U/18–LukeRollinson 57.24; Open –JackDoderico 53.81, Aaron SaltmarshMilne 1:06.09; Masters–Brett Rollinson 1:03.44.

BOWLS

STRZELECKI NORTH

LADDERS

STRZELECKI NORTH MIDWEEK

PENNANT 2024 -25Division 1Round 2 22/10/2024

Division 1W LD FA Dif Pts

Traralgon RSL1 200 122107 15 28

Trafalgar 12 00 121992226

Morwell Club 11 10 129103 26 16

Drouin 11 10 117107 10 16

Moe 11 10 112117 -5 16

Traralgon 11 10 112120 -8 16

Newborough 10 20 95 115-20 6

Warragul 10 20 90 130-40 4

Division 2W LD FA Dif Pts

Newborough 22 00 129854430

Drouin 21 10 117105 12 20

Trafalgar 21 10 100124 -24 17

Morwell 11 10 127104 23 16

Traralgon 21 10 121101 20 16

Morwell Club 21 10 113124 -1114

Yinnar 11 10 95 109-14 14

Neerim District 10 20 94 144-50 1

Division 3W LD FA Dif Pts

Newborough 32 00 152807231

Churchill 12 00 110101 926

21 10 120108 12 18 Drouin 31 10 96 137-41 14

10 20 98 120-22 4

30 20 102132 -30 3

4W LD FA Dif Pts

200 137845331

21 10 140106 34 18 Traralgon RSL2 110 104119 -1515

31 10 104119 -1514

11 10111 133-22 14

20 20 94 129-35 4

By TOM HAYES

THE action at Traralgon Tennis Association has once again began to rampupasthe warmerweather graces thecourts. Withsummer just around the corner, the Traralgon Tennis Association has a stacked schedule, through until next year. Although tennis is generally asummer sport, the courtshavehad their fair share of use during the entire year, with the increasingly popular pickleball competition Currently on the Traralgon courts, the

Division 5W LD FA Dif Pts

YallournNorth 12 00 92 69 23 17

Yinnar 21 10 82 72 10 11

Drouin 41 10 97 70 27 10

Newborough 41 10 65 80 -1510

Trafalgar 31 10 58 88 -30 10

Traralgon 40 20 67 82 -152

Division 6W LD FA Dif Pts

Churchill 22 00 81 70 11 18

Neerim District 21 10 82 60 22 11

Traralgon 51 10 79 73 610

Traralgon RSL3 110 78 76 210 Morwell 41 10 71 72 -1 9

Warragul 30 20 57 97 -40 2

Nominations needed for Northv South Dec1 and Region Sides in Ballarat10/12 January

STRZELECKI NORTH PLAYING AREA

SATURDAY PENNANT 19 Oct2024 Rnd 2

Division 1W LD FA Dif Pts

Traralgon 13 00 304 170134 52

Longwarry1 300 250 1935747

Trafalgar 12 10 247 223 24 35

Warragul 12 10 237 242 -5 27

Newborough 11 20 229 205 24 23

Traralgon RSL1 120 195253 -58 17

Morwell 10 30 196299 -103 8

Drouin 10 30 199272 -73 7

Division 2W LD FA Dif Pts

Moe 13 00 274183 91 51

Neerim District 12 10 273 2165738

Traralgon 22 01 249 2183137

Morwell Club 11 11 238 235 325

Garfield 11 20 215264 -49 21

Traralgon 31 20 219253 -34 20

Traralgon RSL2 120 204 239 -35 16

Thorpdale 10 30 195259 -64 8

Division 3W LD FA Dif Pts

Boolarra1 300 297 171126 48

Trafalgar 22 10 257 221 36 38

Morwell 22 10 216248 -32 30

Newborough 31 20 201219 -1823

Newborough 21 20 241 2113020

Drouin 21 20 203 244 -41 20

Yinnar 11 20 224 246 -22 19

Moe 21 20 191270 -79 18

Division 4W LD FA Dif Pts

Longwarry2 300 259 2184148

Churchill 12 10 241 203 38 37

Warragul 22 10 263 220 43 34

YallournNorth (1)210 254 232 22 32

Traralgon 41 20 235 257 -22 25

Yarragon 11 20 232 270 -38 22

Neerim District 21 20 214236 -22 15

Morwell 30 30 207 269 -62 3

Division 5W LD FA Dif Pts

Drouin 33 00 182156 26 43

Traralgon RSL3 300 209 1476241

Warragul 32 10 196171 25 31

Trafalgar 32 10 187155 32 30

Traralgon 52 10 175165 10 30

Garfield 21 20 205 1713422

Morwell 41 20 150206 -56 16

Morwell Club 21 20 149212 -63 16

YallournNorth 20 30 163186 -23 6

Boolarra2 030 146193 -47 5

Division 6W LD FA Dif Pts

Drouin 42 10 144954922

Newborough 42 10 122119 318

Longwarry3 210 109113 -4 18

Moe 32 10 123116 717

Neerim District 31 10 75 73 29

Traralgon 60 20 67 91 -24 4

Trafalgar 40 20 62 95 -33 2

Division 7W LD FA Dif Pts

Traralgon RSL4 300 112585430

Traralgon 72 10 63 41 22 20

Warragul 41 20 106763012

Thorpdale 21 20 42 67 -25 10

Moe 41 20 109147 -38 10

Churchill 21 20 100143 -43 8

State event entries canonlybeaccessed via theStrzeleckiBowls Region Website.

Rnd1StrzNth StateFours on Wednesday 30 Oct.

Nominations needed for North vSouthand Region

Sides in Ballarat.

STRZELECKI NORTH PLAYING AREA

SATURDAY PENNANT 2024 -25, ROUND 326-Oct-24

DIVISION 1Pts Shots Pts Shots

Longwarry1890Warragul 055

Trafalgar 14 83 Morwell 475

Traralgon RSL1779Newboro1 64

Traralgon 16 85 Drouin 264

DIVISION 2Pts Shots Pts Shots

Traralgon (2) 12 79 Garfield 672

Traralgon RSL(2) 14 82 Thorpdale4 63

Neerim District 18 97 Morwell 067 Moe 16 84 Traralgon(3) 268

DIVISION 3Pts Shots Pts Shots

Boolarra18126 Moe (2) 041

Yinnar 15 80 Newb (3) 362

Morwell (2) 14 81 Drouin (2) 468

spring pickleball competition is underway, taking place every Mondayfrom 6.30pm. TraralgonTennisAssociationManager, SusieGrumley encourages those who are interested in pickleball to come and check it out.

Prospective players will have abetter chance to give pickleball agoinNovember, as the Traralgon Tennis Association is set to hold another ‘come and try’ pickleball event, in an attempt to continue to strengthen the competition.

Pickleball popularity has grown so much in the Latrobe Valley that the Traralgon Tennis Association is committing to the sport, getting courts permanently marked. Eight courts towards the back of the

Trafalgar

StablefordSaturday19th

AGrade Winner: D. Burridge 38pts

BGrade Winner: W. McGrath 33 pts

CGrade Winner: T. Collins 36 pts

D.T.L: 1. R. Madigan 37,2.J.Cahill 35, 3. P. Flanigan 33, 4. T. Johnson 33, 5. M. Smith 32, 6. A. West 31, 7. R. Abel 30. N.T.P: 3rdT.Collins,5th P. Smart12th (Pro Pin) R. Dent, 14th R. King

Birdies: 3rdR.Madigan, 12th R. Welsh

Target Hole: 18th D. Burridge

StablefordTuesday15th October 2024.

AGrade Winner: C. Gilfillan35pts

BGrade Winner: V. Reid 38pts

D.T.L: 1. M. McQuillan 36, 2. S. Turner 36, N.T.P: 3rdC.Stevens,5th M. McQuillan, 12th S. Gosling,14th M. Ryan

MIRBOONORTH

Tuesday22nd October,Stableford

AGrade: PWoodall (9) 41pts c/b

BGrade: MTethington (18) 38pts

DTL: JWoodall41, TBradshaw38, J Hughes 37

NTP: 4th JHughes,6th MPayne,13th T Bradshaw, 16th JSmeriglio

Saturday. 26th October,Stableford,

AGrade: DDavis (8) 42pts

BGrade: GDawson (16) 40pts

DTL: PCummaudo 38, TWhitelaw, D Jerram 37,NBaker,J Woodall 36 c/b

NTP: 4th NBracecamp,6th TWhitelaw, 13th

JWoodall, 16th WReynolds Birdies: 6th GDawson, TWhitelaw, 13th DDavis

MOE

Saturday, 12 October 2024 1st ROUND MENS 4BBB PAR

GradeB Winners: Colvin, Anthony& Powell, Vincent +8 C/B

Place Getters: Beath, Ken&Buckman, Peter+8C/B

Borg, Manny&Buckman, Peter+8

Spiteri, Patrick&Metcalfe, Mark+7

Grant, Peter& Pickard,Andrew +6 C/B White, Rodney&O'Farrell, Kevin +6

GreatScore: Joshua Gaul (Birdie) @14

Kevin O'Farrell (Birdie) @14

AnthonyColvin (Birdie) @14

Nearest to Pin: 4th PeterBuckman, 8th

AnthonyColvin, 14th Kevin O'Farrell

Saturday, 19 October 2024

Competition :2nd RndMENS 4BBB Par

Overall Winners: Matthews,Max &Wolski, Ted+5

Place Getters: Bassman,Aaron & Bassman, Jeffrey +4 C/B

Hibbs,Steven&Harland, Bob +4 C/B

Kerr,Graham &Wilkinson, Wally+4

Veenman, Laurie &Donaldson, Murray +3

Spiteri, Patrick&Metcalfe, Mark+2 C/B

Scullin, Aaron &Stephens,Peter +2

Nearest to Pin: 4th Andrew Pickard ,8th

Wayne Yeomans,14th Aaron Bassman 4BBB 36 hole Champions Laurie Veenman &Murray Donaldson (+14)

Wednesday, 23 October 2024 WOMEN'S WEDNESDAY 9HOLE Stableford

Grade AWinners: Auchterlonie,Janice (54) 14

Wednesday, 23 October 2024 WOMEN'S STABLEFORD

complex willsoon be specificallydesignated for pickleball, replacing the previous temporary tape lines.

While pickleball has received much attention in Traralgoninthe last 12 months, theTraralgonTennisAssociation courts will be resurfaced, with 18 courts set to be re-done. It will be the first upgrade in six years Grumley recalls,with the fundingcoming fromanallocation made in the Latrobe City Council Budget.

The courts requireresurfacing every six to seven years in order to keep them at an international playing standard for the Traralgon Tennis Association’s major events.

Grade AWinners: Lang,Marj (23) 38 C/B

Grade BWinners: Stewart, Leahann (30)

39

Place Getters: Fitzpatrick, Robin 38 Mitchell, Evelyn 37 Elliot, Christine 36 C/B

Great Score: Robin FitzpatrickBirdie @4

Nearest to Pin: 4th Robin Fitzpatrick,8th KathyBorg,14th Marj Lang

Target Hole Prize: Marj Lang

Thursday, 24 October 2024 OPEN Medley

Stableford

Grade AWinners: Beveridge,Eric(11)36 C/B

Grade BWinners:Pisa, John (24) 37

Place Getters: Dent, Russell 36 C/B, Shearing,Andrew 36 C/B ,Morrow,Darren

36 C/B ,Colvin, Anthony36, Papettas, Maurice 35, Donaldson, Murray 34 C/B, Rodaughan, Peter34

GreatScore:Darren White(Eagle) @ 2, William Rilen (Birdie) @8,MickWest (Birdie) @8,Laurie Veenman (Birdie) @8 Nearest to Pin: 4th Russell Dent, 8th Laurie Veenman ,14th Darren White

Saturday, 26 October 2024 Competition : MENS Stableford

Grade AWinners:Taylor,Brayden (10) 40

Grade BWinners: Bourne,Craig (16)41

GradeC Winners: Boad, Dave (19) 38

Place Getters: Rothwell, Craig 39, Harber, John 38, Ayton, Kevin 37 C/B,Doak, Shaun 37 C/B ,Frost, Warren 37 C/B ,Michie,Brad 37,Grant, Peter37C/B ,Andrijczak, Paul 37 C/B ,Johnson, Tony 37 C/B ,Panozzo, Gavan37, McIntosh, MatthewLeigh 36 C/B Mills,Riley36C/B ,Attard, Kyle 36

Great Score: Kevin Ayton(Birdie) @4 , Brad Michie (Birdie) @8,Graeme Brien (Birdie) @14, Aaron Bassman (Birdie) @14, Warren Frost (Birdie) @14, Shane Backman (Birdie) @14, Craig Rothwell (Birdie) @4 Nearest to Pin: 4th Kevin Ayton, 8th Stephen Briggs,14th Aaron Bassman Saturday, 26 October 2024 WOMEN'S SATURDAY STABLEFORD

Grade AWinners: Lang,Marj (22) 35 Great Score: Marj Lang (Birdie) @11 MORWELL

Womens,Stableford23rdOctober 2024

Winner: Lvan Rooy 35 pts

DTL: JGriffiths 34 pts

NTP: 2nd NTePaa ,11th: Yoshimura, 15th: Yoshimura TRARALGON

SaturdayMens –StablefordSat, 19th

October 2024

Winners

Div 1: MattLarkin, 10.2 (10),39

Div 2: Chris Lehner 17.4 (17), 38

Div 3: Jake Bishop,23.5 (23), 39 RunDowns all divisions: 4Geoff Kyle13.5 (13), 38, 5RobertAhearne,18.5 (18), 38 ,6 Alexander Rathbone,19.3 (19), 38 ,7Glen Franklin, 9.2 (9), 38 ,8Damien Cooper,6.3 (6), 37 ,9Doug Veldman, 12.8 (12), 37 ,10 Billie JoeHegarty,17.5(17), 37 SaturdayMens –StablefordSat, 26th

October 2024

Grade Winners

Div 1: Arlean Peavey,8.9 (8) 39

Div 2: Simon Blair,10.2 (10) 40

Div 3: Brian Jones,20.3 (20) 38

Div 4: Murray Jones,28.9 (29) 40

RunDowns all divisions: 4RhyleyGuiney 12.9 (12), 39, 5Phillip Denhouting 9.5 (9), 38, 6Brian Jones 20.3 (20), 38 ,7 Glenn Graham 14.0 (14), 38 ,8Ben Boers17.7 (17), 38 ,9Jordan Pickersgill, 20.5 (20), 38 , 10 Lucas Tripodi, 26.2 (26), 37 TRAFALGAR

Tuesday22/10/2024 -Stableford

Players:32,Women 2, Men 30

Winner: BevKeily(22 c/b)

Runner Up: MickBennett(22)

DTL: Russell Balfour (20), Chris Moody (20), Hank Fiddelaers(20), RodPollock(19), AkosKerekes (19)

NTP: SteveKlemke(5)

Thursday: 24/10/2024 -Stableford

Players: 47

Women’s Winner: Olwyn Balfour (24)

Runner Up: PatHarris (20)

DTL: Chris Payne (17), Aileen McNair (17)

NTP: Cheryl Deppeler (13)

Men’s Winner: Charlie Hooker (22)

Runner Up: MickBennett(21)

DTL: Wayne Dunn (20), Akos Kerekes(20), Dennis Scambler (20), Duane Baker (20), Chris Griffin(19), Max Pugliese (19), Chris Moody (19)

NTP: Max Pugliese (13)

WednesdayWomen's results: 23/10/24

3Person Drop out Ambrose -15players

9-Hole Stablefordwith8players

Winners: KarenMacGregor,Sue Klemke and Anne Outhred with 65.85 nett

Runners-Up: BevKeily, Cheryl Deppeler and Charlie Killeen with 70.66 nett

DTL: JanGriffin, Aileen McNair and Chris Payne with 72.33 nett

NTP: 5th JanGriffin 15th SueKlemke

9Hole Stableford: 8players

Winner: PatHarris (33) with 21 points

Runner Up: Sue Tabuteau (33) with 20 points

DTL: Heather Savige with 16 points c/b Gobblers: Donna Mellon on the 12th Friday,October 25th 2024, Open Men’s& Ladies Stableford

AGrade Winner: MarcAlbanese 43 pts

BGrade Winner: Darryl Blackshaw39pts

DTL's: PeterHobson 37,AlbertHayes

37,Nathan Lugton 36, Jamie Pilcher 36, Tyson Webb 36, David Radovich 35, Adam Steenholdt 35 C/B Eagle: 7th: Ben Skinner 14th:Greig Williams Birdies: 11th:Jamie Pilcher 13th:Brett Robinson, RichardLloyd,Will Hanrahan

Saturday, October 26th 2024, Stableford

AGrade Winner’s: Josh Clarkson 42 pts

BGrade Winner: ParisChristian 37 pts

CGrade Winner: Shane Davey39 pts DTL’s: RayWilliams 39, HoppyIng 38, Jeff Gray 38, Vic Hill 37,WarwickGriggs 37,Tony Shearer 37,Dennis Hicks 37,Paris Christian 37,JeffHasthorpe 37,Max Taylor 36,

TENNIS

T-Birds soaring, Moe women unbeaten

BASKETBALL

CBL BY TOM HAYES

EXACTLY half of the localteams that took to the court in Country Basketball League action managed to win at the weekend.

The Traralgon men’s side was barelytested, while the opposite could be said for the Morwell men’s. The following day the Magic evened up theirrecord for the weekend, while Moe search for answers.

TRARALGON keep trucking along.

The T-Birds recorded their fourth win of the season in aresounding 105 to 67 victoryaway from home.

There really was no let off from the visitors, who had their foot on the accelerator for just aboutfour quarters against Wonthaggi.

The tone was set in the first half, which allowed Traralgon to tiptoe to the end without much trouble at all.

Agreat start had them up by nine points in the opening term, almost doubling their host’s score, 20-11. Things only becamemuch better for the T-Birds in the following quarter, as they outscored Wonthaggi by 22 points to extend their lead beyond 30.

Wonthaggi drew the T-Birds’ lead back marginally in the third quarter, scoring 23 points to 21, but still awall stood in theirway,staring down the barrel of a29-point deficit.

Traralgon closed out the win in style, extending upon their already huge margin, adding another 29 points to its total, only allowing the Coasters to add 20.

The T-Birds walkedawayasvery convincing winners, doing so by 38 points. Aiding the side to victory was Zac Bezzina with 26 points. Also featuring prominently was Koby Tibballs (22 points), Mason Porykali (17), BradleyWatson (14), and Ben Barlow (14).

Awin from theirsolegame of the weekend moves Traralgon’swin-loss record to 4-1,currentlysitting in thirdplacebehind Pakenham (6-0)and Warragul (4-1, higher percentage).

MORWELL had its first of two games of the weekend at home against Warragul, and despite their best efforts, the Warriors were too good, recording a95-84 win.

The Magic were never far from the pace, but at every break in play, the Warriors lead continued to extendjustmarginally, and every pointcounted. Most of the damage was actually dealt to the Magic in the first term, which saw them concede an extra seven points, establishing their deficit.

Sevenpoints soon became10atthe end of the half,asWarraguloutscored Morwell 23 points to 20 in the second term.

The Magic were only once againedgedout by their counterparts in the third quarter, with just two points separating them. But once again to the advantage of Warragul, pushing the visitor’s lead out to 12 points.

It would’vebeen an unlikely comeback, and that it was, as Morwell fell short. The one shininglight was the fact they won the last quarter by apoint, shaving their losing margin back to 11 points at thefinal buzzer.

Jordan Canovanled the way in defeat with 27 points, while help was provided from William Tankard with 16.

Morwell cleaned up their act the following day, withamassive winover Bairnsdale 91-64, at home once again.

This time around, Morwell wasn'tmessing about, getting on with the job from the get-go, putting the Bullets in their place.

The Magic jumped the gun in the opening quarter to burst out to a10-point lead, scoring 25 to 15, before an even more dominant second quarter, which only improved their margin out to 25 points, outscoring Bairnsdale 26 to 11.

Withsuchamarginuptheirsleeve only halfway

through thegame, it would’ve been aheck of a steal if Bairnsdale managed to grab the win from Morwell.

But the Magic kept gaining to extend on their lead even further. Although the third quarterwas much more lower scoring, Morwell managed to escape theclutches and scorefive more points, pushing theirlead to 30 points.

Bairnsdale bit back in the last, winning the quarter by three points to finish behind the pace by 27, handing Morwell its second win for the year.

Tankard led the way with 21 points, with Dejay Ansell (15) and Canovan (14) keeping him company.

Morwell’s 2-3 record keeps them in the hunt, in fifth place after four rounds.

MOE continued to struggle in the early part of season 2024, recording its secondloss, this time going down 82-70 to Wonthaggi.

Considering the amount Traralgon defeat the Coasters by, this was quite the swingcompared to their Latrobe Valley rivals.

TheMeteors were outofthe gates quickly and looked to be the goods after the opening stanza, leading the way by eight points, 25-17.

Thehighwould be short-lived however, with the Coasters handing themarealitycheck with aquick second quarter response.

Wonthaggi outscored Moe 28-13 in the second term, flipping the script on the Meteors, who now trailed by seven points at the halfway mark.

The Coasters continuedtorun away with it, it seemed, addinganother four points to their advantage after the third term, and before you knew it, their lead was in double digits.

Aslower-scoring final term from bothteams saw either side justrecord 31 pointsbetween them. But once again, it was into the advantage of Wonthaggi, who extendedtheirleadonce more to 12 points, which would be their winning margin.

Ben and Jayden van Dyk led theway for Moe with 18 and 15 pointsrespectively. Stephen O’Brien was reliable with 14.

Moe’s 2-2 record has them currently in seventh place, aconcerning position to start the season.

LATROBE Valley sides in the women’s competition went 1-1 at the weekend, beginning with Morwell hosting Warragul.

The Magicwere out of the encounter before it could even get going, giving up an 18-point buffer to the Warriors after the first quarter.

Although they pegged it back atouch in the second term, the Magic still trailed by 13 points at the half. Acomeback wasn’t completely off the cards.

But their comeback hopes were wiped from any thoughtsafter the thirdquarter played out, as Warragul went to town on Morwell, smashing them 35-14, pushing their lead out to 34 points with a quarter to play.

Morwell once again did well to reel the margin backintheirfavour,but were nowhere near close, going down by 27 points.

Emily Scholtes wasoutstanding despite the result, scoring 30 points -nearly half of Morwell’s score.

It was just Morwell’s first loss of the season as they sit with a2-1 record in fifth place.

Moe got the chocolates over Wonthaggi in the women’s, doing so with the scoreboard reading 60-52.

Wonthaggi had the edgeearly,goingupbythree points after the first quarter, then extending to eight points after the half.

Moe dropped the hammerinthe thirdquarter though,with amonster25to7-point quarter, going up by 10 themselves heading into the final term.

Moe lost the final term, winning just one for the game, but they had done enough from their third quarter effort,asthe Coasters pegged the Meteors’ lead down to eight points at the final buzzer. CaitlynDemczuk scored 15 points, as Moe remain undefeated at 3-0, currently third on the ladder.

Melbourne, Shelley to fly the local flag in WNBL

BASKETBALL

WNBL BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

LATROBE Valley exports willbeonfull display this WNBL season with Moe's Jaz Shelley and Traralgon's Jade Melbourne flying the local flag. Shelleyispreparing for her first year in the WNBL.

Shelley signed withnew franchise Geelong United as their first official player for their inaugural season just two weeks after she was unexpectedly cut from WNBA side Phoenix Mercury following being drafted as the 29th overall pick less than a month prior.

“I played here aboutfiveyears ago just before Iwenttocollege, andnow one of my first years back in Australia being able to play for Geelong in aWNBL season is pretty incredible,” she said in aclubmedia release.

In 2019,Shelleyposted averages of 10.5points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as a19-year-old for Geelong’s NBL1 women’s side before embarking on her five-year stint in the US.

Initially, Shelley played two seasons at the University of Oregon before transferring to Nebraska (in which she spent her last two years as asenior) establishing herself as astarting guard with averages of 13.6points,5.1 rebounds and

5.7assistsper game in three seasons with the Cornhuskers.

After declaring for the WNBA Draft, Shelley returned home to play for the Ballarat Miners in the NBL1 South for the months before her WNBL commitments ramped up.

The Miners made it to the Preliminary Final, with Shelley averaging 12.6 points (45/36/88 shooting splits),5.8 rebounds,4.7 assists and 1.8 steals in 12 games, with her best performance coming in June when she dropped 22 points including four three-pointers and grabbed six rebounds against the Ringwood Hawks.

Geelong United play on the opening night of the WNBL season, home at Geelong Arena against the Townsville Fire tonight (Wednesday, October 30).

Geelong’s investors took over the WNBL license from former club Melbourne Boomers this offseason and subsequently rebrandedand movedthe franchise south-west.

 ENTERING her fifth season with the University of Canberra Capitals, Traralgon’s Jade Melbourne has all signs pointing up for the 2024/25 WNBL season.

The Olympic bronze medalist began her professional basketball career with the Capitals in 2021 managing30appearances across two seasons with averages of 8.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, which includedplayingfinalsinher debut year.

Finishing her third season in Canberra breakingout with averages of 13.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists pergame,the Traralgon junior star readied for the big time and came through, drafted into theWNBA as athird round picktothe Seattle Storm.

Although sparingly playing with limited opportunity to showcase her ability during her first year in the top-tier of women’s basketball, Melbourne continuedtoimprove in the Australian competition, runningamuck to splits of 16.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game.

Traded to beginher secondyear in the WNBA across to Washington, Melbourne backed up her previous Capitals season seeing regular contribution as more minutes began to show.

In 37 games, she averaged 5.4points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.6 steals per game as the Mystics narrowly missed out on aplayoff appearance.

Undeniably improving in every season as she has gotten deeper and deeper into her basketball life, expect another top year on the court from Melbourne in the nation’s capital(ironically she does so in both her homeland and in the states).

UC Capitals play their firstgame this Sunday afternoon, (November3)against the Sydney Flames at Qudos Bank Arena.

Primedand ready: Moe’s JazShelleyhas returned home to Australia ahead of the upcoming WNBL season with thenew franchise Geelong United. Photograph supplied

RSL gets the better of Newborough at home

BOWLS

STRZELECKI NORTH

WEEKEND PENNANT

BY MICHAEL HOLROYD

ROUND 3ofthe Strzelecki North weekend pennant was played in lovely conditions, enabling bowlers to display all their skills.

In Division 1, Traralgon and Longwarry continued their winningways and TraralgonRSL secured their first win of the season.

Trafalgar and Morwell played an exciting game at Newborough,with Trafalgarprevailing by eight shots thanks to Matt Schreyer and his rink of Mal Clymo, Graham Hill and Ted Kuklinsky winning 26 to 11. Danny McKeown and his rink of Abbas Mehran, Alex Monroe and Keith Gadsby fought back for Morwell with a27-15 victory. Longwarry won all four rinks against Warragul to win by 35 shots with Jason Lieshout and his rink of Grant Pask, Peter Lieshout and Russell White continuing their outstanding form in a27-10 win. Traralgon had astrongwin at Drouin with three rinks up and a21-shot margin with Michael Yacoub and hisrinkofPat Trewin,GregSwan and Julian Wildenberg winning 22-10

Traralgon RSL had agood win at home against

Newboroughwith Dave Hodsonand his rink of Rick Lukey, Titch Hore and Kevin Durward having a24-16 victory.

 DIVISION 2 saw Moe have abig win over Traralgon (3) with Steve Pallot and his rink of Janine Williams, Michael Muccillo and Flynn Pallot having a33-17 win, to retain top spot on the ladder.

Traralgon (2) with only one rink up defeated Garfield by seven shots with the winning rink being Kathy Smiles and her rink of Di Richards, Bill Kirby and Al Hegarty winning 30-10 to seal victory.

TraralgonRSL (2) hadagood winatThorpdaleby 19 shots with Jeff Blythman and his rink of Norm Stoertebecker, Craig Wilson and Paul Matters winning 25-12. Neerim District jumped to second place with all rinks up at home against Morwell Club with Peter Throup and his rink of Ray Throup, Jim Fallon and Pat Fraser-Aurisch winning 30-15

 DIVISION 3 had Boolarra continue on their merry way with all rinks up at home against Moe (2) in amassive 85 shot victory with the score 126-41. Joel Anderson and his rink of Jolene Laukens, Mark Whiley and David Caldwell won 35-7 and Ron Lyfield and his rink of Jack Cleaver, Graeme Colbert and Steve Davy won 45-5. Morwell(2) hadagoodwin at Newborough

Harriers tackle Scales Road hills

ATHLETICS HARRIERS BY BARRYHIGGINS

AFTER asemi-rural meander around Lake Hyl and in Churc hill the pre vi ous week, Traralgon Harriers members enjoyed the first full-on trail runwhenthey tackled the hilly out of town ScalesRoad course last week.

Although the weather gods frowned slightly, conditions were pleasant in the rustic surroundings.

Despite many members running hard at the weekendevents afew days earlier, mosttackled the up hills and downhills with enjoyment.

Talented junior Dempsey Podmore finished two minutes aheadofagelessveteranIan Cornthwaite, with Andrew Greenhill only a few seconds further back.

Yani Cornthwaite was consistent in again leading the way, ahead of Karen Graham, a recent Melbourne half marathon finisher, and arelaxed Molly Irvine.Molly had just flown in after representing Australia at the world triathlonchampionship finalsinSpain afew days earlier.

The energetic trio of Corey Milner,Miles Versch uur an dG reg Sem mler ran the Rollercoaster Run the previous Saturday. All finished in the top25ofthe field of 466 who ran throughthe fernyforests of theDandenong National Park. As the name reveals, there were steep up and down sections with more than1000 metres of severe elevation. Corey Milner ran the 23km in 1.55:43, Miles Verschuur 2.07:12 and Greg Semmler 2.01:13.

This Thursday’s (October 31) run/walk is at Clarkes Road,north of Mattingly Hill Road.

Coming events are the Boolarra Rail Trail Run on Sunday, November 10 and the Carol and Barry Summe rsgill Cross Country Championships on Thursday, November 14. Yani and Ian Cornthwaite, Courtney Ellis, Mat Deppeler and Angelo Gaudiano all ran the Geoff Watt Memorial half-marathon in Warragul last Sunday.

HappyHarrier: Kathleen Kent enjoys the scener yasshe navigates herway downhill. Photograph supplied

Yani came second for the women's, running a1.40:06

Ian came third for the men, completing the course in 1.32:07. Results -Scales Rd 5km Trail Run: Dempsey Podmore19.15, Ian Cornthwaite21.12,Andrew Greenhill 21.21, Glenn Graham 23.28, Yani Cornthwaite23.41, Clinton Jolly23.44, Stephen Renehan 24.00, Trent Kooyman 25.30, Ron Verschuur 26.06, KarenGraham 26.06, Gary Fox 26.12, Geoffrey Francis 26.41, MollyIrvine 26.50, Ashleigh Dugan26.50, David Barr 27.07, Kate Mayer27.43, Chris VanUnen 28.05, Andrew Broberg28.24, Giuseppe Marino 28.26, Peter Sanders29.20, ReeGraham 30.12, Kimberly Imperial 30.25, ChesneyPodmore30.48, Seth Bomers30.52, Belkey Podmore34.14, Phillip Mayer34.56, Kaye Livingstone 35.33, Alfie Warner 35.35, Callie Cook 36.00, Catherine Leonard36.01, Tania Whitehead 36.10, KatKent 37.11, Danelle Wright 42.09, TimothyGraham 44.44, Lynda Jones 45.10, LukeWitham 45.46, Ann Bomers47.30, Kristina Creighton 48.59, Kylee Earl55.03, Andrew Legge 1.00:00, MatthewDeppeler NTR, Adrian Sutcliffe NTR.

over Drouin (2) with Ian Wilsonand his rink of BillTumney, Chris Cunninghamand JillWhite winning 30-11.

Yinnar had their first win for the season with Murray Delahayeand his rink of Anne Lirsch, Trevor Berryman and Julie Klein winning 25-10 and Max Aumann and his rink of Kerryn Nicholson, Meredith Kennon and Russ Peters winning 29-15.

Trara lg on (2) were too go od at home for Newborough(2) with all rinks up. Bruce Giles and his rink of Kyen Jenkins, Robert Connell and Terry Robertson had a21-13 win.



DIVISION 4 went the way of Longwarry, who beat the previously undefeated Churchill to remain top of the ladder.

Longwarrt won by 12 shots, with Geoff Bailey andhis rink of Kevin Dixon, Blake Bartrop and Sharon Twite wining 31-13.

YallournN orth wonw ell at home against Yarragon with Ricky Hearn and his rink of Glenn Swenson, George Platschinda and Shane Dobson winning37-16.Neerim District (2)had agood win at Traralgon (4) with only one rink up. John Rochford, Richard Kerr, Thelma Schroeder and Gregg Chapple winning 34-10. Warragul (2) hadagood win at home against

Morwell (3) with David Gatewood and his team of Brian Kennedy, Linda McCoy and Paul Simmons winning 30-9. Trevor Curtis and his rink of Lyn Johnston, Marleen Monroe and Nicole Van Rysbergen did well for Morwell (3), winning 24-9.



DIVISION 5 saw Garfield record abig winat home over Morwell (4) with Gwen Fabris and her rink of Keith Cooke, Wes Goodman and Helene Newton winning 39-9. Traralgon (5) had awin at home against Trafalgar (3) with Ron Hales and his rink of Kelvin James, Hannelore Jeffrey and Daniel Chambers winning 29-12. Morwell Club (2) had anarrowtwo shot victory against Yallourn North (2). Drouin (3) won by seven shots at Boolarra (2) and Traralgon RSL (3), with only one rink up, defeated Warragul (3).

 DIVISION 6 scores were: Moe (3) defeated Newborough (4), Drouin (4) defeated Trafalgar (4)and Longwarry (3)defeated Traralgon (6). Neerim District (3) hadthe bye.

Division 7winners were Moe (4) over Churchill (2) while Traralgon (7) and Warragul (4) forfeited to TraralgonRSL (4) and Thorpdale(2) respectively.

Good start to the season for Trafalgar in midweek action

BOWLS STRZELECKI NORTH MIDWEEK PENNANT BY MICHAEL

HOLROYD

MIDWEEK pennant bowls was played in perfect weather on Tuesday, October 22.

In Division 1, TraralgonRSL continued their good form with aone-shot victory at Drouin on a green which has caused them problems in the past.

MauriceSutcliffe and hisrink of Margaret Gibbins, Shirley McKenzie and Chris Mackintosh won 23 to 16 to help them to top place on the ladder despite Graeme Aubrey and his rink of Vince Mancarella, John Bickerdike and Jan Aubrey winning 26-18.

Trafalgarcontinued their good start to the season with their gun rink of Matt Schreyer,together with Mary Holdsworth, Heather Taylor and Ted Kuklinsky winning 23-14 to defeat Newborough. MorwellClubwon well at home against Warragul, with Roger Rejmer and his rink of Iyoko Yoshimura, Sue Karleusaand Gail Rejmer winning29-10 and LynneSmith and her rink of Vaughan Reimers, LesBrown and Tara Harle winning 30-13.

Traralgon had an eight shot victory over Moe, with KathySmilesand her rink of Clint Jones, Elaine Swan and Graham Cross winning 28-11 whilst for Moe Steve Pallot and his rink of Brenda Hosking, Robyn Dodd and Paul Read won 29-16

 DIVISION 2 saw Newborough (2) go top of the ladder after winning well at Yinnarwith Ed Whelan and his rink of Michael Holroyd,Denise Ryanand JoanGoldie winning 27-7.

Trafalgar(2) had asolid win at home against Neerim District, withWayne Hurstand his rink of Joanna Reckie, David Wilson and Margaret Moss winning21-16. Morwell Club (2)had agood win at home against Traralgon(2) with LeanneBroadbent and her rink of Harry Wright, Margaret McColl and Joyce Hughes winning 27-9.

Drouin (2) had abig winagainst Morwell at

Traralgon with Brian Thorpe and his rink of Bev Walsh, Robert Dicksonand Wayne Walshwinning 24-10.

 DIVISION 3 action led to Newborough (3), with Ann-Mary Ryan and her rink of Bob Goldie, Phil Maxwell and Heather Mooney winning 3310 and Peter Policha winning 25-9 and Graham Cocks 29-13 in their big win against Drouin (3). Morwell (2) got on the winninglistagainst Traralgon (3) with RebeccaMatheson and her rink of Jenny Duncan, Palma McNeil and John Matheson winning 30-16. Churchillhad agood win at Yarragon with David Patience and Graeme Drury both winning by six shots.

 DIVISION 4 had Garfield winning by six shots over Warragul (2) with Gwen Fabris and her rink of Keith Cooke, together with Maureen and Robert Lamport winning 32-14, while for Warragul (2) Jim Moyle and his rink of Ian Belling, Heather Baker and David Ferguson won 27-10.

Longwarry had astrong win at Traralgon RSL (2) with Jason Lieshout and his rink of Kevin Dixon, Heidi Bosch and Natalie Cousin winning33-16. Morwell (3), with Glenn Watkins and his rink of Sharlene Draeger, Bernie Detering and Nicole Van Rysbergen won 31-8 as they defeated Moe (2)  DIVISION 5 saw Newborough (4) defeat Yinnar (2) by two shots. Drouin (4) had abig winagainst Trafalgar (3) with Peter Phillips and his rink of Ashley Rees, Gwen Price and Marie McDonald winning 35-9. Yallourn North defeated Traralgon (4) by six shots.

 DIVISION 6 went well for Neerim District (2), with Jim Schroeder winning 27-11 and Neville Cousins winning 28-10 to defeat Warragul (3). Traralgon (5) defeated Morwell (4) and Churchill (2) defeated Traralgon RSL (3).

Great time for Toon in oneday win

CRICKET

CLVPREMIER A

BY LIAM DURKIN

HOME ground advantage came into play during Round 4ofCricket Latrobe Valley Premier A.

All four teams supplying afternoon tea won their games.

The leaguewill now moveintothe two day format, so step aside one day hacksand make way for those with the mental aptitude to concentrate for hours on end.

 TOONGABBIE put it all together against Centrals.

Afterpushing reigning premier Ex Students the week before, the Rams completed aclinical display on their home deck.

Toongabbie chased the138 posted by Centrals

with ease, going past the total in the 31st over only four down.

IsharaJayasingheand Amal Athulathmudali put on 81 for the second wicket, mowing down a large chunk of the total themselves.

Jayasinghe made 45 against the new ball, while Athulathmudaliblasted the Kookaburra to all parts, smoking 62 off just 39 deliveries, sending four of them over the Toongabbie pickets.

Centrals had afew players get startsintheir innings, but Corey Pollard was the only one to go on and make ameaningful contribution with 38.

Pollard was also the main man with the ball, snaring 2/18 off seven overs.

Jason Veneman, Athulathmudali and Rob Wheildon applied the breaks with the ball for the Rams, bowling 10 overs each and going at less than three an over.

Lowergrade scores

CricketLatrobeValley

SATURDAY,OCTOBER 26

PREMIER B(ROUND 4)

Ex Students 4/108 (A Jaensch 59*, ANewton 2/27) def Glengarry100 (P Henry38, ANewton 26, HCanny8/16, DChurchill 2/8), Jeeralang-Boolarra 0/105 (B McCormack 61*, TLaaks 31*) def CATS 6/101 (M Antofer 40, LSmith 2/24), Morwell 8/154 (J Pullen 33, BLever-Makin 3/32, S Cooke 3/40) def Traralgon West 43 (C Seymour5/14, N Day2/1, BReside 2/14), Toongabbie 9/171 (M Cooper 58, RFarley 35) defChurchill 7/167(ANorman51, P VanRossum 34, BCooper 4/36), Thorpdale6/192 (L Morphett 107, RHughes 3/31, GWalker2/28) def Mirboo North 77 (K Dron 3/14, LSwain 3/16, LMorphett 2/8).

BGRADE (ROUND 4)

Centrals 7/183 (J Eccles 73, BHourigan 57, JBull3/35, C White2/28) def Gormandale 80 (J Donovan 3/12, Brodie Howlett 2/3, JDowns 2/16),WillowGrove 2/110 (H Binstead 29) def Rovers 108 (W Coad 37, Jvan der Stoep 5/15, JCoombs 3/15), Raiders 4/107 (Jack Daddo 29, BSizeland 2/2) def Imperials 9/106 (A Donoghue 40, L Hegarty 27,NSandhu 4/25, RSidhu2/16), Moe2/101 (B Finn 45, MWhitney 27*) def Latrobe 100 (M Zomer 39, R Borlase 25, RBlunt 4/23, JAtkinson 3/18, BWilson 2/18).

PREMIER C(ROUND3)

Ex Students 1/93 (A Ferguson 51*, SThomson 34)def Morwell 9/91 (S Cheffers 28, MIsles 2/12, AFerguson 2/20, LRichards 2/22), Toongabbie 8/210 (B Hood 81, DLaws38*, CHughes 2/44) def Centrals 9/93 (J Poursanidis 30*, JElms 3/18, BHood 2/11, JPearson 2/17, JHazelman 3/31), Mirboo North 4/130 (J Reid 74, HMartin 3/24) def Imperials 124 (J Jones 50, PWoodall 4/12, DCalder 2/4, ADegennaro2/20), Moe4/206 (R Straughair 85*, CVeenman 61, JDwyer 3/36) def Glengarry64(DBiggins 3/8, FManduci 2/4, RSemmens 2/4), Rovers def CATS on forfeit

CGRADE (ROUND 3)

Jeeralang-Boolarra 4/291 (A Baker 127, EStanton 109*, T Webber 2/84) def Raiders 71 (C Stanton3/9, TCameron 3/10), Churchill 7/204 (S Wernham 61, CDekaste 54, ILawrence3/29) def Imperials 8/74 (D Campbell 45, CDekaste3/7, BJones2/8, SWernham 2/17),

Latrobe 6/209 (T Roberts 77, KMcKay 45,PMooney 33*, RArchipow2/30) def WillowGrove 110 (T Cotter 45, MHayes 2/2, KHebbard2/14, BAtkinson 2/17), Gormandale def Traralgon West on forfeit, Rawson -bye

Women's

THURSDAY,OCTOBER 24

WOMEN'S PREMIER (ROUND 2)

WillowGrove 4/55 (R van derStoep 20*) def Churchill 4/49 (E Lugton 24), Latrobe vs Raiders (abandoned), Imperials vs Centrals (abandoned).

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

Ex Students 2/60 def Raiders 3/59 (T Hunt 17*, J Millington 2/2), Morwell 1/73 (R Ball 20*, NFreeman 17) def Rovers 1/67 (S Minster 17*),Mirboo North vs Willow Grove(abandoned).

Juniors

UNDER 16 (ROUND 3)

Raiders 2/207 (J Dunn 51*, ACeeney 50, SDarby36, TDuff 2/42) def Moe113 (T Webber 3/14, BBremner 2/25, FMahoney 2/30), Centrals 8/189 (A Hurley 32, J Howell 2/29) def Morwell/Latrobe 170 (J Mooney 50*, W Frankland 32, JSterrick 25, HLeeson 2/17, SRajapakse 2/37) WillowGrove 1/73 (D Walsh 35*, ZLarkin29*) def Gormandale/Rovers 8/63 (D Walsh 2/12, ZLarkin2/2,N Sallee 2/6), Toongabbie 9/153 (T Young 53, KPritchett 38, RConway2/16, FGraham 2/22) defExStudents 9/105 (S Shore52*, JHazelman 2/10, JWall 2/14), Glengarry-bye (PlayedSunday, October 27)

UNDER14(ROUND 2)

Moe4/87 (L Walsh 27*) def WillowGrove 8/58, Gormandale/Rovers 1/74 (J Bull 21*) defLatrobe 7/64 (B Duncan 32, MCochrane 2/5, MClark 2/15), Ex Students 1/75 def Mirboo North 6/58, Morwell 4/98 (J Sterrick 21*) def Centrals 7/74 (A Shirreff 2/7), Jeeralang-Boolarra -bye.(PlayedWednesday, October 23)

Veneman wasrewarded with 2/26 for his dot ball pressure.

Toongabbie will be relieved to get their first win of theseason on the board, and theirlastfortnight has run in starkcontrast to how theyplayedagainst Moe three weeks ago.

In that game, as half-tracker after half-tracker was served up, the Rams lookedclearly underdone.

Fine margins however exist in sport, and it doesn’t take much for external factors to take effect.

Abad week at work or issues at home can often be acontributing factor as to why players look lethargic in the field or as though their legs are setting in cement when they go out to bat.

Shane Warne’s sheerskill was legendary,yet those who knew him best said his greatest strength was his ability to cast aseemingly never-ending list of scandals to onesideassoon as he stepped onto the field.

 MOE supporters might not have too many fingernails left.

Aweek after winningbyone run, the Lions experienced how it feels on the receivingend,losing to Morwell by one wicket.

Some late day chaos at Keegan Street eventually saw the hosts scamper through,chasing 182 in thrilling circumstances.

Morwell made the bold decision to field first, and watchedasMoe built afew handy partnerships throughout the first half.

Andrew Philip anchored the innings as usual, scoring 76 off 124 balls, while Keenan Hughes got some busy runs down the order with an unbeaten 25 off 39.

As they often do, Morwell bowled well as aunit, with four bowlers taking two wickets each.

Tim Ford, Brendan Brincat,ToddDixon and DylanDay all returned similar figures, goingat threes.

The Tigers top order ran virtually parallel to the Lions, with Morwell on 49 when the third wicket fell -exactly the same as what Moe was on comparison.

The Lions edged ahead, taking acouple of middle orderwickets throughleg spinner Jordan Shields, to leaveMorwell precariouslyplaced at 5/88.

Key batsman Blake Mills however was still in, and having registered ahalf-century off 45 balls, looked to be in astrongposition to see his side through.

Theleft hander however shelled acover drive off Hughes that was taken by Shields.

Athrow back of the head from Mills showed his frustration, and it was now left to the lower order to get around 50 runs without losing four wickets.

The remaining batsmen tickedoff the runs one by one, yet there was another twist when sub fielder Kye Micallef bobbed up to take acrucial catch to leave Morwell 8/146.

Young Tiger Josh Seymour kept his cool, making avaluable 13 off 21,taking Morwellwithin 18 runs of victory, yet his dismissal meant it would be down to the final pair of Dixon and Lachlan Day.

Dixon eased some pressure with asix and four, before Day found the boundaryhimself to level the scores.

It was not without anear-death experience however, as Dixon was put down in the deep.

Hughes and Shields took three wickets each for Moe, although to see the Lions send down 22 wides and four no balls was very uncharacteristic for a team most have come to know as always doing the fundamentals better than most.

By contrast,Morwell only bowled four wides and one no ball.

CRICKETLATROBEVALLEY

TOONGABBIEVCENTRALS at Roger Ries Oval

CENTRALS BATTING

LSpeairs bN Farley 3

JLittleton bJ Veneman 17

JMathewscIJayasinghe bR Wheildon 19

THourigan bJ Veneman 6

CPollardlbw TDunn. 38

BWilliamson run out TDunn. 7

JMurdoch cM Barryb TDunn 14

TShankland run out IJayasinghe,MBarry. 5

TGamage cAAthulathmudali bT Dunn 4

HRajapakse run out TDunn 4

CWhitehead not out 0

Sundries (0b 3lb 15w 3nb) 21

TOTAL138 (49.4overs)

TOONGABBIE BOWLING

JVeneman 10-2-26-2, RWheildon 10-3-25-1, AAthulathmudali

10-2-22-0, TDunn 3.4-0-9-3, SRyan3-0-23-0, NFarley 5-0-16-1,

MBarry8-1-14-0

TOONGABBIE BATTING

TDunn bMFenech. 6

IJayasinghe cL Speairs bH Rajapakse 45

AAthulathmudali cB Williamson bCPollard...................................62

RWheildon cT Hourigan bC Pollard. 6 MDunn not out 15

JVeneman not out 1

Sundries (0b 3lb 3w 0nb) 6

TOTAL4 /141 (30.5 overs)

CENTRALS BOWLING

In agame decided by one wicket, the Tigers had three extra free hits than their opponents, which became five in actuality. Moe lost the plot abit at times, gifting Morwell freebiesbybowling consecutivenoballs andseeing two wides registered the ball after anothernoball.  GLENGARRY was classy yet again.

The Magpies defeated CATS in acalculated chase, winning by seven wickets and with just as many overs to spare. In ahigh scoring game at Fred King Oval that saw both teams make more than200,batsmen were able to boost their averages thanks to afirm deck needing to go the distance for GCL the following day.

Nathan Harrup made 60 for the visitors, while Tinashe Panyangara smacked two bombs in a 30-ball stay that yielded 38, to go with Paul McGill and Owen Palmer, who both struck at above 80 during their 25-run cameos.

Al Jenkin benefitedfrom taking pace off, grabbing 4/20, backing up from skipper Nat Freitag’s 2/37. The Magpies then had their turn on the turf, and put on 79 for the first wicket through the Marks brothers.

Frankoutscored his brother Sam 56 to 39, before Freitag came in and played an untroubled hand of 71 off 65 rocks.

An otherwise cordial afternoon at Glengarrywas not without controversy, as CATS batsmen Eric Porigneaux was Mankaded by Frank Marks. While such adismissal always divides opinion, Porigneaux was warned by Marks afew balls beforehand.

Marks was however clearly through his action when he took the bails, althoughstaggeringly, Porigneaux was nearly sprinting as he was backing up when it was only the 34th over.

The umpire had no hesitation giving it out, while the reaction from the Glengarry players was one of annoyance.

The words “just stay in your crease” were heard over the livestream as the batsman pleaded his case before trudging off.

This writer’s thoughts exactly.

 EX STUDENTS made things closer than they perhaps should have.

The SharksdefeatedRaiders by three wickets after rocking and rolling them for 112 at Terry Hunter Oval.

The visitors fell apart following the dismissal of captain Liam Maynard with the score on 32, losing their next three wickets for just six runs.

Lee Stockdale cleaned up with 4/12, while the bowlingmachine Adam Brady took three of the first four wickets to fall.

Mitch Harris chipped in with 2/28, before Stockdale and James Pryde put on 67 for the opening wicket with the stick.

Stockdale had to retired for 36, and Pryde was dismissed for 29 which triggered one of the more zany periods of cricket imaginable.

Needing just 33 to win with eight wickets in hand, the Sharks lost five more poles on the run home.

Things became alittle tense as Rob Webber cashed in bowlingstump-to-stump (two bowled, two lbw), yet Ex Students were able to nudge ahead and get off the ground before 30 overs was up. The reaction from Raiders players as well when Webberwas getting his wickets didn’t seem to indicate they thought the game was still alive either.

The man known as ‘Barney’ finished with 4/39 off 8.2 overs.

JShields 10-0-56-3, BZomer 8.2-1-34-1, AJohnstone 10-2-32-1, K Hughes 10-0-28-3, BMcCartney 1-0-9-0, LSmith 6-0-22-1

HRajapakse 1.5-0-7-1, CPollard7-1-18-2, CWhitehead 3-0-14-0, TGamage 4-0-31-0, MFenech 7-1-20-1, JLittleton 3-0-30-0, T Hourigan 5-1-18-0

Soyza’s grand Gormy afternoon

CRICKET

CLVAGRADE

BY LIAM DURKIN

GORMANDALE emerged as the big winners out of Round 4inCricket Latrobe Valley AGrade.

The Tigers broke Rovers open after tea, led by aseven wicket haul from spinner Yohan Soyza defending 169.

Soyzahad just about the perfect day individually, scoring an unbeaten 58 at Stoddard Oval, before running through the Rovers middle order on the way to figures of 7/21.

Cal Polo contributed to the Gormandale total,

making 31 opening the batting, in the face of some tight bowling from Navdeep Singh (3/28)and Ewan Williams (2/18).

Rovers seeminglyhad little to fear after Liam Little and Tyler Pearce put on 60 for the first wicket, yet when the former fell for 25 and the latter just 10 runs later, the Tigers suddenly found an opening.

Campbell Peavey created the incision by taking the first two wickets, paving the way for Soyza to dive into the wound.

He took the next six wickets, seeing Rovers add just 34 runs in the process.

Rovers batsmen Dougal Williams watched the

Cover Points with Liam Durkin

Weirdand wonderful

SOME unusual dismissals in Cricket Latrobe Valley at the weekend.

There was amankadinPremier Aand ahit wicket in Premier B. Elsewhere, there was also some unusual organisation required. Thosewho knowfarming knowthat work never stops.

Thorpdale, already with numbers stretched, had aplayer who could not arrive to the game until 1.30pm because there was lambs to crutch (similar to shearing) in the morning.

Another player couldnot arrive untilafter they’d finished ploughing apaddock to come and sub field for someone who had night shift.

In aprevious era, most local cricket games would finish by 5pm in order for dairyfarmers to milk the cows.

Local knowledge

BIT of an Express connection to afew performances last round.

Morwell brothers Connor and Josh Seymour were both instrumental in seeing their teams over the line.

Connortook5/14inthe twos, while Josh playedacrucial hand under immense pressure lower down the order as the Tigers won by one wicket in Premier A.

Their aunty, Barb Seymour,isgeneral manager of the Express.

Whileongreat bowlingfigures, Ex Students’ Heath Canny’s effort might take some beating.

Canny took 8/16 for the Sharks in Premier Bagainst Glengarry.

Amazingly, six of them were bowled.

All go at the Grove

GOODtosee Jay van der Stoep and Josh Coombs enjoy strong individual games at the weekend.

The pair took eight wickets between them for Willow Grove in BGrade,with the former getting one for the mantelpiece (5/15).

Both have been instrumental off the field in resurrecting the Wolves’ fortunes (along with

ahost of others).

Officials can often find their own game compromised as aresult of all the off field work they do, and you can be sure whenever they make afew runs or takes somepolesitcarries extrasignificancesuchistheir love for the club.

Willow Grove held agala event at the weekend, and there was no doubt plenty of reflection looking back 10 years since the wheeled turned.

The club nearly wasn’t far offfolding adecade ago, and now fields AGrade, BGrade,CGrade, two women’s teams and three junior sides.

Pretty inspiring really.

In sync

AT the risk of sounding too simple, is alot of cricket just based on luck?

In this writer’s game at the weekend, his side (Trafalgar, in the WDCA) won aclose game with 11 balls to spare.

The batting was mostly chanceless, and the chasecalculated well,but we also took four really goodcatches thatyou could haveexcused had they hit the grass.

One was humming and taken highatsecond slip, another inches off the ground at backward point, and onediving late in the innings on the deep extra cover boundary.

Jackson Noonan (familiar to many in GCL circles) pulled off the best catch you are likely to see,walkingthe tightropeaftersprinting square to take the ball as if leading out of full forward.

Marnus Labuschagne caused the ire of some last summer for supposedly being the luckiest batsman in world cricket (a stat revealed he had nearly been dropped as much as he had been caught over afour year stretch).

It is said however that luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

InterviewingStevenBradburyonce,the subject of luck inevitably came up eventually. He said something however that has stayed with me: “You need alot more than luck to get to the final of the Olympic Games.”

carnage from the other end, going through seven partners before his dismissal at the hands of Soyza saw the visitors tally 117 in the finish.

Peavey had to make do with figures of 2/28, yet his return wasjust as valuable as Soyza’s givenit swung momentum back in Gormandale’s favour.  THE best win in Willow Grove’s recent A Grade history?

The Wolves chased 158 against perennial ‘hard to beat team’ Mirboo North, setting off much cause for celebration.

Travelling to Willow Grove, the visitors elected to bat first upon winning the toss.

Useful contributions and afull allotmentofovers sawthe Tigersgraft a150-plus score. Max Woodall had aslogdown the order, making 37 off 23 balls (three sixes),while veteran Chris Anders made life easier for those coming in, taking the shine off the ball with 31 off nearly 100 (respect).

Young leg spinner Darcy Walsh secured 3/39 and Luke Tumino an economical 2/21 off 10 overs with three maidens.

The Wolves were in trouble early in reply, slumping to 2/18. Kyan Mulley and Luke Payton however rescued the innings,adding 42 for the third wicket.

Mulley departed for 26, and Payton ashort time later for 38 (two sixes). With fresh faces at the crease, Willow Grove collapsed to be 6/88, yet a 62-run partnership between Tumino and Ben Edebohls took the home team to the cusp of victory Tumino was dismissed for 36, yet playing-coach Edebohls stoodfirm, and walkedoff with an unbeaten 38 off 71 balls to his name.

Willow Grove won with two overs to spare and two wickets in the shed, and willtakemuch confidence from the result.

Generally speaking, most successful teams have at least two 50-run partnerships every game,and the Wolves wereabletoregister this equivalent KPI in this game(62 plus 42 equals 104).

Strangely enough, the leg spinnersdid damage on the concrete, with DaleBanks followingWalsh’s effort by taking 2/21. Zac Hollis (2/33) and Anton Thomas (2/36) both chipped in.

 IMPERIALS were made to work for the points against Latrobe.

The favouriteslost seven wickets on the run home, but did enough to leave Peter Siddle Oval after successfully chasing 171.

An early day looked on the cards when Latrobe fell to 4/25, yet surprise, surprise, Anthony Bloomfield and Ronnie Chokununga got the Sharks out of trouble.

Bloomfieldplayed ahand of 32, while Chokununga teed off at the other end, smashing 89 off 115 balls. He hit nearly 50 runsinboundaries, making 24 in foursand another lot of 24 in just sixes

Todd Mann added to his collection of career wickets,taking 3/28, backed up by Dilshan Thilakarathne with 3/36.

Imperials made asubdued start, but when Brett Chapmanwas trapped in front firstball,itwas the start of atop order collapse that left the visitors 6/76.

Dilshan however playedasteadying hand, making67off 126 balls. He found awilling ally in Scott Aitkenatnumberseven,who battedthroughand

CRICKETLATROBEVALLEY

MIRBOO NORTH BOWLING

10-1-26-1, MDaly6-0-32-0, ZHollis 10-2-33-2, BHeath 2-0-9-1, DBanks 10-1-21-2, AThomas9.5-1-36-2

GORMANDALE VROVERS at StoddartOval

GORMANDALE BATTING

CPolo cT Pearce bN Singh..................................................................... 31

CPeaveybE Williams 13

NSoyza cT Pearce bE Williams 0 MHibbs cJPearce bNSingh. 19

DKeyhoe bLLittle 1 YSoyza not out 58

NScammell lbwNSingh 3

TReynolds cE Williams bLPatterson 13

NHeardlbw MLeslie 3 RFarley not out 2 Sundries (2b 6lb 18w 0nb) 26

TOTAL8/169 (50 overs) ROVERS BOWLING

EWilliams 7-3-18-2, MLeslie7-1-39-1, LLittle 6-1-17-1, SDuff 101-25-0, NSingh 10-1-28-3, LPatterson10-1-34-1

ROVERS BATTING

LLittle cDKeyhoe bC Peavey 25

TPearcestDKeyhoe bY Soyza 34

EWilliams c&b CPeavey. 4

DWilliams cM Hibbs bY Soyza 24

DQuigley st DKeyhoe bY Soyza. 10

DDuncan cNSoyza bY Soyza. 0

LPatterson bY Soyza. 1

cNSoyza bY Soyza 2

cNSoyza bY Soyza 3 NSingh cT Reynolds bN Heard. 2 MLeslie not out 0

Sundries (0b 2lb 9w 1nb) 12

TOTAL 117(37.3 overs)

GORMANDALE BOWLING

TReynolds 3-0-20-0, MHibbs 10-2-29-0, YSoyza 8.3-2-21-7, N

Heard6-0-17-1, CPeavey10-0-28-2

CHURCHILLVTRARALGONWEST at AndrewsPark West

CHURCHILLBATTING

BKelly bHKimpton 13

NDuncanc RWilkiebRFalla 24

ACeeney cIZafar bHKimpton 1

RAyres lbwHKimpton 101

JKeighran bB Fleming 26

RHarveycHKimpton bJ Cooke.. 37

MHarveynot out 13 JMason not out 2 Sundries (2b 2lb 13w 1nb) 18

TOTAL 6/235(50 overs)

TRARALGON WEST BOWLING

FBowser 10-0-59-0, RFalla10-0-46-1, JCooke 10-1-60-1, H Kimpton10-1-48-3, BFleming 10-1-18-1

TRARALGON WEST BATTING

RWilkie cDDunne bRHarvey. 0

HKimptoncA Ceeney bRAyres 0

MGriffithsnot out 59

IZafar cACeeney bR Harvey. 19

FBowser cRAyres bC Williams 16

JCooke lbwC Williams 0

BHowelbw CWilliams 0

BFleming bS Warr 4

DCooke bC Williams 0

BGriffithslbw CWilliams 0

RFalla cC Williams bJ Mason. 8 Sundries (1b 1lb 17w 2nb) 21

TOTAL127 (35.2 overs)

CHURCHILLBOWLING

JMason 2.2-0-7-1, CWilliams 8-1-23-5, RHarvey6-2-23-2, R Whelpdale 4-0-17-0, SWarr5-1-15-1, MHarvey2-0-3-0, RAyres 8-0-37-1

was 36 notout when the winning run washit Salman Rasool, who hasjoined Latrobe this season from Traralgon West, took 2/36, while Jacob Bloomfield nabbed 2/41.  WINX odds.

Churchill put anotherteamawaywith absolute ease, this time sending Traralgon West to the cleaners.

The Cobras racked up 6/235 on Andrews Park West, before rolling the Eagles for 127.

Perhaps the most unheralded local sportsman in the Latrobe Valley added another dot point to his resume, with Chris Williams running riot taking 5/23.

Sharing the exact same name as the more recognised Chris‘Squid’ Williams (regarded by some as the best footballer Churchill has ever seen), the man simply known as ‘Willow’ has perhaps lived in the biggest shadow imaginable.

‘Willow’ also plays football for the Cougars, and has more than 300 games and afew flags to his name.

Comesummer,heisalso averyaccurate medium pace bowler, evidenced by his haul at the weekend. Of his five wickets, threewere lbw and one bowled.

Williams’ efforts followed Ryan Harvey taking 2/23withthe new ball, after RyanAyres had blasted 101 with the bat.

Traralgon West’s decision to bowl first backfired spectacularly, as Harvey (37 off 41) and John Keighran (26 off 31) basically had alicence while Ayres was doing his thing.

Hayden Kimpton hadsome joywiththe ball, ending with figures of 3/48, while Matt Griffiths was stoic, coming in at first drop and remaining 59 not out as everyone else around him went out.

Churchill has already raced to be fourpoints clearontop of the ladder, and even from this early on,itislooking as though it will be Churchill then daylight in AGrade.

Competitors however should not be discouraged It was Richmond then daylight in 2018.

NO THIRDS THIS

WEEKEND

PLAYERS in Premier Cand CGrade can put their feet up this weekend,withthose competitions havingabye for the Melbourne Cup long weekend.

Premier Band BGrade play as normal, with Premier Bhaving afortnight of one dayers before moving into two dayers. Two dayers begin for Premier Aand A Grade this weekend, playing the longer format all the way to Christmas. There is no change to the women's Thursday night fixtureorunder 16s Friday night schedule.

LATROBEVIMPERIALS at PeterSiddle

Matthews’ major cricket milestone

CRICKET

EX STUDENTS Cricket Club legend Andrew ‘Andy’ Matthews (pictured) will play his 200th AGrade game this weekend.

Matthews is set to bring up the milestone when the Sharks play Centrals. Fittingly,hewillget to play hismilestoneon his home ground of Terry Hunter Oval.

Matthews has been one of the club’s greatest ever bowlers, with more than 400 wickets to his name including nine five-wicket hauls.

He is athree time club champion, and has played in seven first grade premierships (2012/13, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2019/20, 2021/22, 2023/24).

His best figures are 8/12, with best match figures of 11/43.

Matthewswas namedinExStudents’ Team of the Decade for the 2000s and 2010s, and was last year selected in alistbythe Herald Sun ranking the best country cricketers since the year 2000.

Local football trade tracker

FOOTBALL

DISCUSSION around local footy never seems to stop.

Littlemore than amonth after the season ended, someattention has already turned to next year.

Player movements have been in the works as far back as June, and afew clubs have already announced player signings.

Over the next few weeks, the Express will be providing weekly updates on such movements. Keep up to date with all the ins and outs fromthe Gippsland League, Mid Gippsland Football-NetballLeagueand North Gippsland FNL.

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

MOE

In: Leigh Poholke (coach, Sorrento),Myles Poholke (Sorrento), Ash Dugan(returning), Aaron Paxton, Alex Dijkstra (both Bunyip). Out: TylerPratt (Neerim Neerim South), Lucas Forato (retired).

MORWELL

Recommitted: Boyd Bailey, Tyler Hillier, SamWalsh, Brandon McDonald, Charlie Burr, Jackson Burr.

DROUIN

Out: Will Papley (Neerim Neerim South).

MAFFRA

Out: Kade Renooy (Boisdale-Briagolong).

LEONGATHA

In: Aaron Heppell (returning).

Out: CamOlden (Pines),Rhett Kelly, Nick Nagel, Josh Schelling (all MDU).

SALE

Recommitted: Derek Eggmolesse-Smith WONTHAGGI

Recommitted: Ryan Sparkes (full time)

BOOLARRA

MID GIPPSLAND

In: Bailey Flanigan (Churchill), Tristan Salerno (Gormandale), Jake Roe-Duggan, Dillon Leys (Thorpdale)

THORPDALE

In: Daniel Taylor (coach)

Out: Ray Pickering (Catani, to coach)

NORTH GIPPSLAND

COWWARR

In: Braden Paulet (YYN)

Latrobe Valley outdone byWDCA

CRICKET GCL BY LIAM DURKIN

THERE’Ssome good players in the Warragul and District Cricket Association.

The Wild Dogs made afew too many runs for LatrobeValley in the openinground of the Gippsland Cricket League men’s division.

Travelling to Fred King Oval, the visitorsracked up 263 batting first, before bowling the hosts out for 186.

Most of the Warragul topordermaderuns,with batsmen one to seven allgetting to double figures.

YashanSamarainghe wasthe onlyone to really ‘missout’, as his 15 wasthe second-lowestscore only to Kian Burns who made 26.

Openers Brayden Notman (47) and Gavin Roulston (30) provided aperfect platform, allowing Damon Healy (61 off 50 balls), Eddie McGillivray (30off 34)and newly appointed vice captain Liam Lenders(31 off 39) to go about their businesses.

Latrobe Valley captain Nat Freitag took 3/33, while Jake Littleton grabbed 2/25 and Todd Mann showed there was still life in his old body, finishing with 2/35.

The Latrobe Valley innings never really materialised, and with the score 3/50, Warragul was able to bowl time with the field spread.

JordanMatthews did his best with 61 off 72 balls,while Connor Robson (37)and Jake Littleon (25) chipped in.

Brad Gloverhoweverran riot with 5/28, dismissing opener Tyler Pearce, which led to amiddle order stagnation.

Roulston chimed in with 2/29.

The match saw two of the brightest youngplayers currently plying their trade in Gippsland, with Roulston and Matthews both part of under 19 squads for Ireland and Canada respectively.

In the other game,Bairnsdale was far too strong for Leongatha, winning by 123 runs at Scorpion Park.

Cam McPhan showed his abilitieslay notjust in

football administration, making 100 off 133 balls for the visitors. FormerMirboo North and Morwell playerJesse Giardinatop-scored forLeongatha with 28 in a total of 132.

Sale-Maffra had the bye.

 THE women’s competition also got underway, with aTwenty20 round robin at Stoddart Oval. Latrobe Valley defeatedLeongatha but lostto Sale-Maffra.

Fiona Morrison and Kim Peters each made 20 in the win, which saw the home side defend 7/78. This was preceded by aloss to traditionalpowerhouseSale-Maffra, who put up 3/145 batting first. Latrobe Valley captain Stacy Rockliff had some success with the ball, taking 2/11.

The Sharks beat Leongatha by nine wickets in the other game.

The women’s competition has received naming right sponsorship from Moe Racing Club and Club Eastwood, who also provide generous support to many Cricket Latrobe Valley clubs.

Gippsland Over 60s sail to another win

CRICKET VETERANS BY GORDON COWLING

THE GippslandGoannas Over 60s hosted Endeavour Hills at Toongabbie last Sunday.

The home side won the toss and batted first.

The two Ray’s, Floyd and Smith, opened the innings, and led to the score reading 2/39 in the 12th over.

Smith made 21, which brought Rob Taylor and JimArmstrongtogether. These two increasedthe

tempo and put on 71 in 12 overs. Taylor retired for43from44deliveries.

Mark Brown joined Armstrong, who also retired for 40 from 48 balls.

Brown made 22 to see the Goannas post 6/169 from their 40 overs.

Bernie Symons and Neil Meredith opened the attack for the Goannas, with Meredith hitting the stumps in the sixth over.

Endeavour Hills reached 58 at the 20-overdrinks break due to some tight bowling by the Goannas attack.

After drinks, Peter Anton struck in each of his

Should

COMMENT BY LIAM DURKIN

UNPOPULAR opinion coming up.

While it is generally accepted the cricket season always starts in thefirst week of October, has the time come to seriously consider aNovember start date?

Those who have frequented the Express sports pages in recent years will surely be in no doubt as to this writer’s love for the summer game, but even he is willing to concede aNovember start date has merit.

Growing up on apotato farm in the rolling hills of Thorpdale, the year was generally divided into two seasons: ‘spud season’, and ‘sheep season’.

Fromasportinglens, therewas alsoonlytwo seasons: footy season and cricket season.

That line of thinking has hardly changed, even if the times clearly have.

Usually, the localfootball/soccer season finishes mid-September and cricket starts two to three weeks later.

Conversely, once cricket season finishes at the end of March, it is around the same turnaround for the new footyseasontobegin, sometimes depending on when Easter falls.

There is hardly, if any, break between the two. No time to catch your breath, no time to go from ‘footy mode’ to ‘cricket mode’, no time to get away and refresh.

Football season rolling into cricket season was previously local players swapping the boots for bats.

Now however, mostlocal cricket clubs have international players, meaning they jump straight

fourth, fifthand sixth overs to have Endeavour Hills reeling at 4/84 after 28 overs.

Anton finished with the excellent figures of 3/8 from his eight overs.

Thevisitorsonly managed4/128 at the end of their 40 overs.

The Goannas Over 70s hosted the Warrandyte Over 70s at Duncan Cameron on Tuesday (October 29) which wasplayed after the Express wentto press.

TheGoannas Over 50smatch away to Sunbury/ Macedon, wasdue to be played last Sunday, but has been postponed until November 17.

season

off aplane with awhole season’s worth of match practise immediately behind them.

Any cricketerworth their salthankers to do well, and in order to compete with overseas players (who are often professionals) alot of localstiedup with both sports havetotry and playfootyduring winter and practise for cricket at the same time -a difficult proposition playing two totally different sports simultaneously.

Curators too are under increased pressure.

As soon as the last game of football is done, groundstaff generally haveless than three weeks to raise squares.

Is it any wonder scores are often low during October?

How curatorswould love awhole month to properly prepare surfaces.

Octoberisoften hit and miss anyway. Most people willallow at least one, maybe twowashouts, while there has been seasons when virtually the entre month has been abandoned.

Justtwo seasonsago, the entiremonthofOctober waswashedout in the then LatrobeValley District Cricket League.

Looking at the calendar, aNovember start could honestly work.

It would however be predicated on these factors:

 The First XI competition playing one Sat/Sun game every month, and;

 Capping the remaining grades to either six or eight teams, on the assumption all matches will be one dayers.

If you were to start in the first week of November, there would be:

 Eight Saturday’s before Christmas, and;

 Nine after Christmas taking in the threeweek holiday break.

This equals atotal of 17 days cricket.

For the First XI, working with an eight/nine team model, you need 21 days to make an even, or as close to an even fixture (seven onedayers, seven two dayers).

As aNovember startallows 17 Saturday’s, you would therefore need to play one Saturday/ Sunday game each month between November and February to get to 21 days.

Most people playing First XI are serious about their cricket, and should be able to work in a Saturday/Sunday commitmentonce-a-month, keeping in mind there would be no cricket commitments in October.

Notwithstanding Gippsland Cricket League games are also on Sundays,one hopesa league as big as Latrobe Valleyhas littletrouble rounding up 12 players for these monthly engagements. For the lowergrades, thereisroomtoplay 14 rounds of one dayers (eight team competition), and thentwo weeks of finals, which wouldfit well within the 17 daysofcricket mapped out.

If grades are capped at six teams, play 15 rounds (everyone plays each other three times) and two weeks of finals, equalling 17 weeks.

A14-15 round seasoncan stillbeconsidered genuine competition, and if anything, would put more emphasis on playerscommittingfor aseason, rather than sneaking in ahandful of games to quality for finals.

Seventeen Saturday’s takes you to the second week of March.

If the lower grades are all finished by then, it sets aside two standalone weeks for First XI finals, whichhas thepotentialtoenablegreater exposure for the top grades, as well as more club support andspectators.

On the attack: Jim Armstrong from Churchill attacksthe Endeavour Hills bowling Best foot forward: MarkBrown from Traralgondrivesfor the Goannas Photographs supplied

Faltum knocked over by Perry Sherriff has finals in her sights

CRICKET

WBBL

BY TOM HAYES

THE Women's Big Bash League started the 2024/25 campaign off with atriple-header, with local export Nicole Faltum in action for her new side.

Now donning the red threads of Melbourne Renegades, Faltum swapped colours but stayed in Melbourne, getting atrade from the Stars. She was one of six club debutants to line up for the Renegades last Sunday.

Brisbane Heat defeated Adelaide Strikers by four wickets at Adelaide Oval, before the Renegades took to the field to take on Sydney Sixers at the same venue.

The Renegades were thrown to the crease after losing the toss, and got off to agood start. So good, that Faltum walked to the crease with the score reading 6/160 with just eight balls remaining in the innings.

It wouldn't be the start to life in red that Faltum would've hoped, bowled for agolden duck by Victorian teammate Ellyse Perry.

The Renegades wrapped up their innings with ascore of 8/178, leaving adecent total for the Sixers to chase.

Perry had the Sixers heading in the right direction, scoring 81 before her dismissal in the 13th over saw the score reading 3/121.

Thir ty six not out from Sara hB ry ce helped the Sixers over the line with an over remaining.

Faltum stood behind the stumps in the field, but was not needed for any wickets.

In thefinal game of the opening day, Perth Scorchersdefeated the Stars at home by 13 runs. In the comingweek,the Renegadeswill face the Heat in Brisbane on Wednesday (October 30), beforehosting the Scorchers and the Strikers in Melbourne across November 2and 3.

Morecricket-Pages 36-37

FOOTBALL AFLWEXPORTS BY TOM

HAYES

JUST one more week awaits until finals football in the AFLW,asweprepare to see just how many Latrobe Valley exportswill be taking part

At the weekend,the entire competitioncelebrated Indigenous Round, with multiple games in the country’s north.

 HAWTHORN and Melbourne started proceedings, with the first game of the round at Cazalys Stadium in Carins last Thursday (October 24).

For the Hawks, Morwell’s Casey Sherriff returned from an ankle injury to face her former side and was quick to make an impact despite her minutes restriction.

Hawthorn held off the Demons, who came late, to claim another four points in the 3.5 (23) to 2.5 (17) win.

Sherriff only spent half the game on the field, collecting 10 disposals, two marks, and two tackles.

The Hawks will hope to hang onto second place,

and potentially steal the minor premiership with awin over Richmond next week in the final homeand-away round.

 THE Saints won’t play finals this year, after suffering an agonising one-point defeat at the hands of the Western Bulldogs, 5.6 (36) to 5.5 (35), at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.

Needing to win to stay in the hunt forthe top eight, St Kilda were off to the best of starts and looked hard to beat as the game progressed into the second term.

The Saints led by seven points after quartertime, extending out to eight points at the half, getting outto14points at one stage.

St Kilda kicked the first of the third term, but two goals and some change from the Bulldogs levelled the scores with aquarter to play

The Bulldogs collected ahandypoint in the dying stages of the last, hanging on until the final siren.

Traralgon’s DarcyGuttridge had 12 touches and kickedabehind to go with two marks and two clearances for the day for St Kilda.

 COLLINGWOOD’S season went from bad to worse following aclose loss to arch-rival Carlton, 5.2 (32) to 4.4 (28) at Victoria Park.

Membrey trade “a

FOOTBALL AFL EXPORTS BY TOM HAYES

TRARALGONexportTim Membrey is set to become athree-club player, on theverge of joining 2023 premier Collingwood.

Membrey is set to become adelisted free agent, meaninghecan strike adealwith any clubhecan. He has reportedly already had amedical with the Magpieswhich saw him pass the "required medical assessments", according to 7News Chief Football Reporter, Mitch Cleary.

The 30-year-old was not offered anew contract with St Kilda, aclub for which he played 178 games over nine seasons. Membrey wasdraftedtoSydney in 2012, spending

formality”

two seasons there, playing one game, before his move to the Saints ahead of the 2015 season.

AlthoughMembrey will help with Collingwood's forwardline, after he kicked 30 goalsfrom19games in 2024, he will become the 10th Magpie on the current list to be over the age of 30.

Cleary confirmed that Membrey will be in black and white next year,stating: "it's now aformality".

Membrey is athree time leading goalkicker for St Kilda.

He played in asenior premiership with Traralgon in 2011 before his draft year.

His choice: Traralgon local TimMembrey appearscer tain to join Collingwood as afreeagent.

Photograph: AFL Photos

Derby Day meeting at Glenview Park

HORSERACING

By LIAM DURKIN

LATROBE Valley Racing Club's first meeting for the season is this Saturday.

The Traralgon-based club will fling the gates open for Derby Day, welcoming aseven race card meeting to Glenview Park.

The volunteer-run Latrobe Valley Racing Club onlyhas two meetings per year, and relies on local support to help keep racing alive in Traralgon. All the usual attractions from aday at the races will highlight the meeting,including fashions on the field, food and drinks, and of course, high quality racing.

Latrobe Valley Racing Club Chairperson Frank Bezzina encouraged all to get along.

"We're allgettingready for the Morwell Bowling Club Derby Day," he said.

"This is the 110th year of racing at Glenview Park, the track looks atreat and the facilities ready to be showcased."

Morwell Bowling Club has shown its continued

supportfor the racing club, remaining as naming right holders for Derby Day even after fire devastated the bowling club's facility acouple of months ago.

Latrobe Valley RacingClubhas also found willing allies in neighbouring racing clubs, who have been on hand to lend maintenance assistance.

Sale Turf Club hosted its cup last Sunday, with the Peter Moody trained Pounding winning the title event.

Tickets are available online for Derby Day.

Visit: https://latrobevalley.membership.countryracing.com.au/ for more information and to view hospitality packages.

Gates open 11am this Saturday (November 2) at Glenview Park (McNairn Road, Traralgon East).

Offand running: Latrobe Valley Racing Clubwillmeet this Saturday. File photograph

Traralgon’s Amber Schutte madeanother appearance for the Magpies, collectingthreedisposals and four tackles in the defeat.

Carlton had the early advantage after aclose encounter in the opening stanza, going up by five points. TheBlues pushed further ahead,out to nine points by halftime.

Bothsides kicked1.1 (7) in the third quarter keeping the game in close quarters, but some work was to be done if the Magpies wanted to steal four points.

Theystarted with the right idea,kicking the openingtwo goals to go up by three points, but Carlton finished stronger with another 1.1 (7).

 TRARALGON’S Lily-Rose Williamson wasn’t selected in Essendon’s Dreamtime clash against Richmond at TIO Stadium in Darwin, which ended in a6.6 (42) draw.

The two points pushed the Bombers into the top eight, and with one game to go, they will hope to secure afinals berth.

The Bombers face the Blues who sit 14th, and they will be favourites to secure aspotinthe top eight.